PROTECTED PLANT PRODUCTION BHT223

Know about greenhouses

Learn how to manage a greenhouse

Learn to grow crops and nursery stock plants in a greenhouse, shade house or other protected situation.

This course not only provides a credit in ACS qualifications, accredited through IARC; but it also prepares you to sit for RHS modules and acquire credits in the RHS advanced certificate or diploma.

Course Content and Structure

The course comprises 10 lessons:

1. Structures For Protected Cropping
2. Environmental Control
3. Cladding Materials And Their Properties
4. Irrigation
5. Nursery Nutrition
6. Relationship Between Production Techniques And Horticultural Practices
7. Horticultural Management In A Greenhouse: Pests And Diseases
8. Harvest & Post Harvest Technology
9. Greenhouse Plants
10. Risk Assessment

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

Describe and Evaluate the type and shape of modern growing structures
Describe and evaluate environmental controls in protected cropping
Explain the nature of solar radiation, transmission properties of glass and its substitutes
Determine the water requirements of a crop; and methods of irrigation.
Relate horticultural principles to the production and harvesting of a range of crops.
Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
Evaluate the factors involved in marketing protected crops
Undertake risk assessment for a protected crop

What You Will Do

Identify the main types of growing structure
Relate use of structures to shape and type of construction
Identify the range of environmental factors controlled within a growing structure
Describe the use of the equipment used to measure and monitor these factors
Name and describe a range of types of environmental controls
Evaluate the use of IT facilities for environmental control
Describe the meaning of “daylight” and explain the role of sunlight and diffused light
Relate time of year to the quantity and quality of available light
Evaluate how the shape and orientation of a structure will affect light transmission
Assess the effectiveness of glass and cladding alternatives for light transmission
Describe the durability and insulation properties of glass and alternative materials
Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for plants grown in a situation
Select and describe appropriate systems of irrigation for container grown plants
Specify and evaluate systems for incorporating plant nutrients into the irrigation water
Explain the effects of environmental control on a range of plants
Relate the essential features necessary for successful plant establishment and development to their underlying scientific principles.
Describe the production of a range of crops
State the optimum stage of growth for harvesting a range of crops
Describe the harvesting systems for protected crops
Explain how shelf life can be affected by pre and post harvesting treatment of the crop
State the factors to be considered when marketing crops
Evaluate alternative marketing outlets
Relate packaging & presentation to marketing
Assess benefits to the grower and customer, of grading a crop before marketing
Determine elements of risk in the practical operations associated with protected plant production.
Identify safe working practices

HOW TO GROW TROPICAL PLANTS IN A GREENHOUSE OR SHADE HOUSE

Even if you live outside of the tropics, you can grow tropical plants with the aid of structures that alter plant growing conditions. Greenhouses, shade houses, pergolas and conservatories are all useful structures for providing protection from weather extremes for tender plants. Such structures are commonly used to grow plants from the tropics and sub-tropics in cooler climate areas, or in areas where there is insufficient shade (e.g. growing rainforest understorey plants without the protection of upper storey plants).

For convenience in a cold climate, nothing beats a conservatory ‑ a glasshouse attached to the house, on the north or east side. A conservatory or greenhouses will allow you to:‑

Propagate new plants

Grow tropical plants in cooler climates Protect plants which are cold or frost sensitive over winter Protect plants from wind, hail and pests
Grow vegetables, cut flowers or berry fruits out of season, or faster than might be achieved outside.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!

Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Email us at [email protected]