Online Course -What Vegetables to Grow, and how to grow them

Work in the Vegetable Production Industry.

Develop skills and knowledge required for commercial vegetable production, including a variety of production methods.

This is a very sound 100 hour foundation course in general vegetable production. Note: Do not undertake Commercial Organic Vegetable Growing as well as this. The two courses do overlap)

Grow better Vegetables, Herbs, Fruit or Cut Flowers

Ten lessons cover site, crop selection, soil management, cut flowers, vegetables, berries, nuts, herbs, tree fruits, other crops, managing a market garden and more.

A module developed for the RHS Advanced Certificate in Horticulture

Online Course -or alternatively, study by Distance education using paper based notes or a CD

How to Grow Plants in Hydroponics -elearning training program

Work in the Hydroponic Industry

Develop a sound understanding of the theory and practice of hydroponics.

This is a course for growers, farm workers, hydroponic shop staff, horticulturists or anyone else seeking to lay a sound foundation in hydroponic growing.

This course introduces you to a wide range of systems, simple and complex, and how to grow many different types of horticulturally valuable crops, such as cut flowers and vegetables.

WHAT IS HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics is the art of growing plants without soil. It is the perfect way to avoid heavy, back breaking work, such as digging. Pests, diseases and weeds are generally much easier to control. Over the past few decades hydroponics has proven an ideal method for both keen amateur gardeners and commercial growers looking for an alternative way of producing plants.

Water is a precious and often scarce resource. Using it effectively can make all the difference to whether a crop is profitable or not. This ten lesson course develops an understanding of how plants use water and how to deliver it more effectively to the plant. Learn about the design, installation, maintenance, operation and evaluation of simple irrigation systems.

This course is similar to BHT210 and BAG213, but focuses on irrigation systems for row crops (eg. vegetables & cut flowers) and orchards.

How to Grow Mushrooms; for farm or Home -home studies or elearning

Ever wanted to grow mushrooms and didn’t know where to start?

Here is a comprehensive 8 lesson course covering how to grow mushrooms on either a small or large scale. Emphasis is placed on the Agaricus species (the Champignon), though other commercially important edible fungi are also considered. Growing, harvesting, marketing, storage, pest and diseases and even ways of cooking and using mushrooms are covered.

This course is similar to our other soil management courses, but relates specifically to crops.

THE FOUNDATION OF PROFITABLE FARMING. There are many things that can be wrong with your soil.. Poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, structural problems such as drainage, and lack of microbial life  are some examples of problems that can beset your soil. Often minor and relatively inexpensive treatments can make a huge difference to productivity, but the problems need to be identified first, and that requires a solid understanding of soil theory and management practice. Learn about soil properties and requirements in agriculture, and how to apply that knowledge at a management level. Topics covered include the chemical and physical properties of soil, soil testing, soil management, earthworks, land degradation, and container growing. “Whether you are living or working on a grazing property or work in the area of land restoration, the study of soil management goes hand-in-hand with the study of pasture management. This is a good course that covers the topic effectively” M. Cullen - Dip. Landcare & Natural Resources, Assoc. Dip. SMI, B. Teaching.

Online Course -or alternatively, study by Distance education using paper based notes or a CD