Tuesday
9.15 am - 12.30 pm | Classroom-led learning
1.00 - 2.45 pm | Online learning in the computer room - students who are in full-time nursery work could do at home
Growing environments |
- Soils and how to identify them, assessment of their fitness for growing and understanding how to modify
- Includes soil types, structure and texture, nutrients, soil biology, pH levels and how soils hold their fertility and water
|
Plant science |
- The mechanics of a plant, function and structure, which includes photosynthesis, respiration, stems roots, leaves and flowers.
- This relates to understanding how plants grow and what they need
- Plant ID and plant families are also covered including weeds
|
Plant health |
- Identifying pests, diseases and disorders, and recognising when a plant is healthy or unhealthy
- Understanding how to manage plant health including IPM and Agrichemical use
|
Wednesday
9.15 am - 2.45 pm | These practical classes are held in our nursery, market garden, or in the field. Additional questions can be answered in a twice-weekly Zoom meeting.
Propagation and cultivation |
- Practical growing in the nursery, growing from seed, cuttings and division
- Cultivation in our on-site market garden
|
Growing systems |
- Taking crops grown to harvest, and getting a taste of a variety of growing systems and skills
- Topics covered include health and safety, tool and small motor maintenance, amenity garden skills, pruning and training, weeding and weed ID, agrichemicals, planting trees, orchard management, market garden management.
|