Learn How to Grow Cut Flowers Commercially
Flowers bring joy to many people's lives whether as a reward for work undertaken, a gift for a birthday or anniversary, in acknowledgement of a life lost, or just to show someone you love or care about them. The phrase "say it with flowers" is rather apt. There are many things that are difficult to express in words, so flowers fill the void.
This course considers some of the most widely used flowers in the cut flower industry. It explains how to grow them from soils to temperatures and humidity to nutrition. You will also learn about basic flower botany and understand how flowers develop so you can take better control over their growth. Learn about how to modify and control the growing environment and the best techniques for harvesting and storing cut flowers.
What this Course Covers
There are ten lessons in this course:
- Introduction to Cut Flower Production
- Soils and Nutrition
- Cultural Practices
- Flower Initiation and Development
- Pest and Disease Control
- Australian Natives and Related Plants
- Greenhouse Culture
- Harvest and Post Harvest
- Developing a Production Plan
- Export Marketing
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site may be relevant supplementary reading for this course:
- Growing & Knowing Flowering Bulbs
- Growing & Using Perennial Plants
- Growing & Knowing Annuals
- Growing & Knowing Dianthus & Carnations
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification with vegetable growing, will impress others, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
This course is geared towards people who may wish to grow flowers for the floristry industry or related industries. This course may also help with running or improving an existing cut flower growing business. It will also be useful for people wishing to grow flowers on a small scale for home use or for a self-employed florist.
Study this course by itself or along with other subjects to create a certificate or higher level qualification to enhance your understanding of the industry and expand your skills.