Home Study Course Nut Production
- Learn nut growing, development and harvesting -by Home Study
- After enrolling, watch our "orientation video" and discover how to use all sorts of services to support your study.
- Lots of flexibility is where and how often you study; and even what your learning is focussed on
- Exams are optional and only needed if you want to use this study as a credit in a formal qualification -even then, we always give you the option to repeat exams
- Exceptional tutor support -Our horticulture faculty includes a dozen university trained professionals most with decades of industry experience. You have unlimited access to tutors over the phone or email.
Why Grow Nuts?
Nuts have some distinct advantages over other crops:
- Long shelf life (so you don't need to sell them quickly) or use costly storage or processing to extend the marketing period
- High in Protein - nutritionally intensive foods
Nuts can be grown in most parts of the world - there are species suited to a variety of climates. Nuts are an exceptionally valuable food crop that can be harvested and stored for long periods and can also be processed into a variety of products. These characteristics make them particularly useful for commercial growers, for the home gardener, or those striving towards self sufficiency.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 8 lessons as follows:
1. Introduction
- What is a nut
- Classification of edible nuts
- Nature and scope of nut production
- System of plant classification
- Plant pronunciation
- More Resources
2. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties.
- Introduction to nuts
- Quick gude to choosing nut trees to grow
- Terminology
- Review culture of different commonly grown varieties of nuts.
- Almond
- American Hazelnut
- Cashew
- Peanut
- Walnut
- Macadamia
3. Culture of Nuts
- Site selection and management
- Site characteristics
- Climate
- Pest and disease, weeds, water and other considerations
- Soils and Nutrition management
- Water management
- Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt, air, etc.
4. Less Common Nuts
- Culture of different less commonly grown varieties of nuts
- Corylus species (Hazels)
- Pecan
- Pistacio
- Pine Nuts
- Chestnuts
- Filberts
- Beech, Oak, Sunflower, Pili Nut, Acacia etc.
5. Propagation
- Seed propagation
- Cuttings
- Grafting
- Layering
- Hardening off young plants
- How to propagate a range of specific nut species/cultivars
6. Harvest & Post-harvest of Nuts.
- Techniques for harvesting a nut crop
- Cleaning, Cracking and Shelling
- Drying
- Storage
- Treatment of specific types of nuts
- Almonds
- Chestnuts
- Pine Nuts
- Walnuts
- Pistacios
- Cashews
7. Marketing Nuts
- Scope and nature of marketing
- Options for marketing nuts
- The marketing process
- Understanding supply and demand with nuts
- Market research
- Uses for nuts -the different products that might be sold
- Food products, processed or unprocessed
- Mulch
- Craft products
- Timber
8. Risk Management
- Workplace Health and Safety in the nut industry
- Risk Assessment (Health, economic, environmental, etc).
- Managing risk
Plus - Special Assignment - On one selected nut group or variety.
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.
This is an individual module. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study. Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
Click here for more information on exams.
COURSE AIMS
- Identify different nut crop varieties.
- Determine the cultivation practices appropriate to a range of different nut crops.
- Determine how to propagate a range of different nut plants.
- Determine appropriate techniques for harvesting a nut crop.
- Specify an appropriate post-harvest treatment for a nut crop.
- Develop marketing strategies for nuts.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Here are just some of the things you will be doing:
- Distinguish between common and scientific perceptions of the term nut.
- Compare the botanical characteristics of the fruits from different nut genera.
- Describe the botanical classification different species of nut plants, including where appropriate, botanical interrelationships.
-
Prepare a plant collection of nut varieties, including the following details on each plant:
- Plant names (Common and scientific)
- A photo, illustration or pressed specimen
- Cultural details
- Harvest & Post-harvest
- Uses (eg. valuable products).
-
Develop a resource file of different nformation relevant to the nut growing industry, including:
- Suppliers of nut plants
- Trade or grower associations
- Publications
-
Perform simple tests on different soils to determine:
- Soil type
- pH
- Drainage
- Water holding capacity
- Evaluate three different soils to determine nut varieties suitable for growing in each.
-
Explain soil management requirements for dfferent nut varieties, including:
- Nutrition
- Soil structure
- Physical attributes
- Explain the control of dfferent pests and diseases on different nut varieties.
-
Develop guidelines for the culture of a specified variety of nut, in your locality, including:
- Watering
- Weed control
- Soil management
- Fertilising
- Pest control
- Disease control
- Prepare a twelve month plan for cultural practices on a specified nut plantation.
-
Explain different methods of propagating five different nut species, including:
- Seed
- Grafting
- Layering
- Cuttings
- Determine propagation methods for different nut species, including where applicable, rootstock variety names.
- Demonstrate how to prepare cuttings for different nut species.
- Demonstrate different types of grafts, suitable for propagating nut varieties.
- Determine seed germination procedures for different nut genera.
- Prepare a production schedule, for nursery production of one type of nut.
- Propagate different nut plant varieties.
- Explain the operation of a mechanical harvester which can be used for nuts.
- Determine when to harvest different specified nut species.
- Compare the efficiency of different techniques for harvesting nuts.
- Describe different storage techniques for a nut variety.
- Determine the optimum environmental conditions for the storage of different nut species.
- Evaluate three different samples of nuts, which have been stored using different techniques.
- Determine the commercial processing techniques used for nuts.
- Explain post-harvest handling of a specified nut species
- Determine different ways in which nuts can be consumed.
-
Compare different ways nuts are packaged for retailing, refering to:
- Physiological impact on the nut
- Cost of packaging
- Presentation
- Explain the marketing of different specified nut products, in your locality.
Develop a marketing plan for a nut product.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
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Horticulture Tutors
Diana Cole B.A. (Hons), Higher Dip. (Garden Design), RHS Advanced Cert. Horticulture, Cert Admin.Mgt., Dip. Inst. Personnel Management
In addition to her RHS horticulture, garden design, City & Guild construction, NPTC pesticide/legislation and business/management qualifications, Diana has a variety of skills drawn from setting up Arbella Gardens, a landscape gardening business. She also has administrative, management and training delivery experience drawn from her employment in other organisations such as the NHS and other educational institutions such as schools & universities. She has augmented her training expertise having gained the Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualification. She also has experience gained through working as a volunteer in a number of different roles including amenity style gardening in parks and practical conservation work. Diana is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited (NSALG).
Maggi Brown Cert.Ed.(Environment)
Maggi 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 (now Garden Organic). She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more them three decades.
Yvonne Sharpe RHS Cert.Hort, Dip.Hort, M.Hort, Cert.Ed., Dip.Mgt.
Having over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne has travelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades. Yvonne is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG).
Thady Barrett M.Hort (RHS)
Thady is a consultant to the horticulture industry in the UK, with particular interest in the ornamental plant sector. Previously he was a senior lecturer at Writtle College for 20 years which included being course tutor for RHS qualifications. Wide ranging practical horticultural experience but with specific interest in propagation techniques and plant production technologies. Member of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) and awarded the Rose Bowl Award in 2009 in recognition of his contribution to the society.
Distance Learning Course Nut Production
"Nut growing, development and harvesting".
- Learn more about nut production and harvesting.
- A great course for amateur nut growers and commercial nut growers.
- Study in your own time at your own pace.
- Our tutors are all experts in the field.
For the enthusiast or commercial grower. This course provides a sound foundation for growing a wide variety of nuts, particularly in temperate climates. It also provides opportunities for you to focus more on types of nuts that are of greater interest and relevance to you.
