FRUIT PRODUCTION - TEMPERATE CLIMATE BHT218

A sound foundation for working in the fruit growing industry

Topics covered include management, soils, planting, irrigation, pruning, cultural practices (including pest control), pome and stone fruits, and various vines, fruit trees and nuts.

This course is suitable for career development for:

  • Orchardists
  • Orchard staff
  • Nursery Workers
  • Farm and Horticultural Suppliers

Home Studies Course - Fruit Growing

Fruit farming has at times been a volatile an uncertain industry for some; and yet a solid and dependable business or career for others. As with many types of farming, the dynamics within the fruit industry have changed over recent decades, in both developed and developing countries. Some fruit farmers have failed to adapt to change and left the industry; while others have adapted in creative and innovative ways; developing new ways of earning a living. Throughout all of these changes, one truth has remained unchanged -people still eat fruit.

Today's fruit farm needs to not only be good at growing fruit; but must grow it efficiently; must choose the right varieties to grow, and must market it well.

This course provides a sound foundation for understanding fruit growing in today's world.


COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

There are 8 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction to Temperate Fruit Growing

  • Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in your region.

2. Establishing an Orchard

  • Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard.

3. General Cultural Practices

  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part A).
  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part B).

4. Tree Fruits

  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part B).

5. Vines, Nuts & Berries

  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part C).

6. Citrus

  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part D).

7. Cultural Management of a Fruit Plantation or Orchard

  • Develop a calendar for cultural management of a fruit plantation, or orchard.

8. Marketing Your Produce

  • Formulate appropriate methods for marketing specific fruit crops grown in your locality.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Duration: 100 hours

 

Aims

On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:
  • Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in your region.
  • Explain the nature of the fruit industry in your region (locality).
  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops.
  • Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard.
  • Formulate appropriate methods for marketing specific fruit crops grown in your locality.
  • Develop a calendar for cultural management of a fruit plantation, or orchard.


WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

You will learn a wide variety of things, through a combination of reading, interacting with tutors, undertaking research and practical tasks, and watching videos. Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

  • Compile a resource file different sources of information regarding commercial fruit varieties.
  • Compare the facilities used to produce different fruit crops, in a specified locality.
  • Determine criteria for selecting a fruit variety to grow as a commercial crop in your locality.
  • Select different fruit varieties with commercial potential for a specified location.
  • Analyse the physical layout of a specified orchard.
  • Determine the scope of commercial fruit growing in a specified locality.
  • Demonstrate standard soil tests to three different soils to determine:
    • Soil type
    • pH
    • Drainage
    • Water holding capacity
  • Evaluate the three different soils tested to determine their suitability for growing different fruit varieties.
  • Analyse the culture
    • Watering
    • Weed control
    • Soil management
    • Pruning
    • Fertilising
    • Pest control
    • Disease control
  • Determine soil management practices, including:
    • Nutrition
    • Soil structure
    • Cultivation
    • Weed control
  • Determine the susceptibility of four specified fruit species to pest and disease problems.
  • Explain how to control twenty different, specified pests and diseases, on different fruit varieties grown.
  • Develop sets of guidelines for pruning three different types of fruits.
  • Determine the factors which are critical to growing fruit trees in your locality.
  • Determine criteria to select a site for fruit growing in your locality.
  • Compare the physical layout of two different orchards you visit.
  • Prepare a plan for establishing a fruit growing area, in your locality, including:
    • Concept layout plan drawn to scale
    • Materials list (including plants)
    • Cost estimates for establishment.
  • Analyse three different marketing systems in the fruit industry, including at local, national and international levels.
  • Explain four common reasons for price fluctuations in the fruit industry.
  • Compare different fruit crops in relation to different factors, including:
    • Storage requirements
    • Storage life
    • Harvesting time
    • Shelf life
    • Transport to market
  • Evaluate the presentation and packaging of three different fruits, for marketing through different marketing systems.
  • Analyse different marketing strategies used by a specific fruit grower.
  • Develop a marketing strategy, including:
    • Marketing stages
    • Marketing schedule (i.e. timetable)
    • Estimated marketing costs
    • Handling procedures
    • Promotions, for a specific fruit crop.
  • Differentiate between the cultural practices undertaken by different growers, on the same crop, grown in different localities.
  • Determine the cultural practices necessary to grow different fruit crops for a twelve month period, on a specified site.
  • Prepare a monthly calendar, covering a twelve month period, for cultural practices in a fruit plantation or orchard.

FRUIT CROPS COVERED IN THIS COURSE

Citrus

Requires a large area, takes at least 3 years from planting to production of any worthwhile crop, full production takes a lot longer; trees can remain productive for a hundred years or more. A development in recent decades has been a steady trend towards mechanisation (Although you may consider lack of finance a serious limitation to efficient production of citrus ... You might need to mechanise in the future to be competitive!). Fruit keep & transport well. Products include fresh fruit, juice, marmalade, rind/peel, and some canned and candied fruits. Small areas of ¼ hectare (1/2 acre) or so have been a productive unit in the past.

 

Berry fruits

Highly productive for the area cultivated. A couple of acres of berries can support a small family. Tree fruits may require 20 acres or more to bring a similar return. Most berries produce within the first few years (Blueberries are an exception). Some berries last only a few seasons (eg: strawberries). Fruit doesn't keep fresh for very long. Products include: fresh fruit, jams, syrups and some frozen fruit.

 

Nuts

Most require a relatively large area to produce a worthwhile crop. Most nuts grow on trees and take at least 4 years from planting to the time when significant crops are produced (some 10 years or more). Keeping qualities are good if kept dry. Require at least a couple of acres to produce marketable quantities.

 

Vines

Grape Vines require a medium to large area (more than berries, not as much as nuts or citrus). Grapes are mostly dried or used for wine. Less than 10% is eaten as fresh fruit grapes. Growing for drying is only worthwhile in low rainfall areas; growing for wine can be profitable in a wide range of areas (high to low rainfall). Dried fruit or wine will keep well, but fresh fruit does not keep very long at all. Vines require a lot of attention and take several years before coming into bearing. Other vine fruits widely grown include Kiwi Fruit and Passionfruit.

 

Pome fruits

These include apples, pears & quinces. An average apple orchard supporting a family might be between 25 and 35 acres. Smaller acreages can provide a profitable sideline. Will grow in a wide range of areas on a wide variety of soils provided reasonably drained and watered, with temperatures which include reasonably cold nights during winter. Keeping quality up to 6 months or so in cold storage.

Stone fruits

These include apricots, peaches and plums. These are a little less hardy than pome fruits, but still adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Drainage is more critical. Fruit does not keep as long as pome fruits. Both stone and pome fruits take up to 5 years to come into commercial bearing from planting time.

 


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Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

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