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GREENHOUSE CUT FLOWERS VHT239

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification To obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Study Greenhouse Cut Flowers to improve your knowledge of producing cut flowers and harvesting and marketing them.

Select your crop: and use appropriate equipment and techniques to get a viable commercial outcome.

Develop your ability to select and cultivate appropriate varieties of cut flowers in greenhouses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Learn about Growing Greenhouse Flowers

Supply markets and increase your cut flower range.

“Learn how you can extend the growing season by expanding your cut flower range and supplying markets year-round. This is a diverse course for the serious grower.” - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA, ACS Tutor.

" I have never found the staff at any other learning institution as supportive as the staff at ACS. This gives one a lot of peace of mind and confidence to go on - at every squeak from my side, you guys have always been there, immediately to sort me out. The feedback on my lessons has always been really good and meaningful and an important source of my learning. Thanks!..."
- Student with ACS

 

In most countries it is now possible to get the most popular types of cut flowers almost any time of the year. Industry has made this possible by doing three different things:
  1. Expanding trade between countries (e.g. Australian tulips might be flown to the Netherlands in August and September, when they are not flowering in The Netherlands; and Dutch tulips might be flown to Australia when it is autumn in Australia)
  2. Breeding new varieties has extended the flowering season for some plants. It is now, for instance, possible to grow Chrysanthemum varieties that flower all year round in some climates.
  3. Growing in greenhouses has enabled farmers to take control of conditions that stimulate flowering; and cause plants to not only grow faster, but also flower at times when they might not have otherwise flowered.

 

Course Content

There are twelve lessons in this course, as outlined below:-

1.  Introduction to Cut Flower Production

Explore the nature and scope of Cut Flower production in greenhouses.

2.  Cultural Practices

Learn to determine key cultural practices that are commonly required to develop and maintain a good rate of growth in a cut flower crop.

3.  Flower Initiation & Development

Learn to explain the initiation and development of flowering in a cut flower crop.

4.  Pest & Disease Control

Determine management practices for cut flower crops grown in a greenhouse

5.  Greenhouse Management A.

Discuss a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.

6.  Greenhouse Management B.

Explain a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.

7.  Management, Harvest & Post Harvest

Determine a range of harvest and post harvest techniques related to cut flower production.

8.  Herbaceous Perennials

Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected herbaceous perennials.

8.  Annuals & Biennials

Learn about greenhouse production techniques for selected annuals and biennials.

10. Bulbs, Corms, Tubers & Rhizomes

Learn how selected bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers are grown in greenhouses.

11. Filler Plants

Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected filler plants.

12. Miscellaneous

Determine greenhouse production techniques for roses, and for orchids.


AIMS

  • Describe the nature and scope of cut flower production in greenhouses.
  • Determine key cultural practices that are commonly required to develop and maintain a good rate of growth in a cut flower crop.
  • To explain the initiation and development of flowering in a cut flower crop.
  • To determine management practices for cut flower crops grown in a greenhouse.
  • To discuss a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
  • To explain a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
  • Determine a range of harvest and post harvest techniques related to cut flower production.
  • Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected herbaceous perennials.
  • Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected annuals and biennials.
  • Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers.
  • Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected filler plants.
  • Determine greenhouse production techniques for roses and orchids.

 

The Importance of Light

One major thing you need to remember for achieving the best, with most flowering plants is that to get a lot of flowers, you need sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. Intensity as well as duration can be important; and for some types of plants, the sequence of change in light over several months, may cause flower buds to form. 

Some flower growers are able to produce flowers all year round by using curtains to create periods of dark, and artificial lights to create light conditions, in a greenhouse.

Light also causes plants to release scents, both from foliage and flowers.

Plants such as roses also need reasonably long periods of sunlight to flower well. Some, however, will flowers with less light – flower carpet roses are a good example. These will still flower with just 4 or 5 hours of sunlight a day, so if you want to bring a potted one indoors you can provided you place it in a well-lit area. 


Optimise Plant Health and Prolong Flowering

Every species has different requirements for optimal growth; but the following hints do apply to most types of cut flowers that we grow.

  • Provide the right light conditions for the plant - both inside and outdoors.
  • Dead head regularly by snipping off spent flowers – this encourages the plant to produce more flowers.
  • Fertilise regularly but take care to not overdo nitrogen as this will produce lots of leaves at the expense of flowers. Seaweed extract is a great tonic for potted plants because it contains growth hormones as well as nutrients; and is very difficult to overdo. When mixed with fish emulsion it makes a perfect all-round fertiliser.
  • Water your plants regularly but if they are potted don’t saturate the mix – keep it slightly moist but not wet.
  • Consider producing potted plants such as a ‘potted colour’ range – they last longer than a bunch of flowers
  • Check for pests or diseases and act early!

 


 

 

 

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Meet some of our academics

John Mason (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Nurseryman, Landscaper, Garden Writer, Parks Manager and Consultant. Over 45 years experience; working in Australia and the UK. He is one of the most widely published garden writers in the world; author of more than 100 books and editor for 4 different gardening magazines. John has been recognised by his peers being made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture in the UK, as well as by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.
Dr. Lynette MorganBroad expertise in horticulture and crop production. She travels widely as a partner in Suntec Horticultural Consultants, and has clients in central America, the USA, Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.
Maggi BrownMaggi is regarded as an expert in organic growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association. She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more than three decades. Some of Maggi's qualifications include RHS Cert. Hort. Cert. Ed. Member RHS Life Member Garden Organic (HDRA) .
Yvonne Sharpe (Horticulturist)Started gardening in 1966, studied a series of horticulture qualifications throughout the 1980's and 90's, culminating in an RHS Master of Horticulture. Between 89 and 1994, she worked teaching in horticultural therapy. Founded the West Herts Garden Association in 1990 and exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show in 1991. In 1994, Yvonne joined the staff at Oaklands College, and between 1996 and 2000 was coordinator for all Amenity Horticulture courses at that college. Since leaving Oakland she has been active as a horticultural consultant, retail garden centre proprietor and sessional lecturer (across many colleges in southern England). In 2000, she also completed a Diploma in Management.


Check out our eBooks

Growing & Knowing Flowering BulbsContaining 187 pages of great facts on growing bulbs and stunning colour pictures, the Growing and Knowing Flowering Bulbs ebook is an essential read for students, professional horticulturalists, hobby gardeners and anyone who is interested in knowing more about flowering bulbs.
Growing and Using Perennial PlantsWhen designed and grown well, a perennial garden produces a blaze of colour for many months – starting in spring, flourishing through summer, and beyond into autumn.
Tropical PlantsThis luscious, illustrated ebook covers hundreds of different plant genera, and many more cultivars. You will learn how to grow plants commonly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It contains everything you need to know about growing tropical plants, managing them and working with them (they can be a little temperamental). Many of the plants can also grow in milder climates as indoor plants or in protected places. Previously published in print form by Kangaroo Press (Simon and Schuster).
Commercial HydroponicsThe Commercial Hydroponics ebook is ideal for students, professional horticulturalists and those who want to build a strong foundation knowledge in hydroponics. The commercial hydroponics ebook explains how to set up a commercial hydroponics system, including growing techniques and equipment that you will need. The topics covered in this book include an introduction to hydroponics, site considerations, alternatives, plant nutrition, nutrient film technique culture, rockwool culture, aggregate culture, other techniques, hydroponics equipment, greenhouse operation, plant culture in hydroponics, Vegetable crops, berry and other fruit crops, flower crops, other crops, managing a commercial hydroponic farm and a troubleshooting guide.