Crops Courses

This accredited course, covers both the skills required to manage a horticultural farm (eg. Market Garden, Orchard), and also to developing knowledge in the identification, growing, processing and marketing crops and crop related products. This course involves eight units, plus a 200 hr workplace project. These are the five core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate (ie. Communications, Management, Business Operations, Office Practices and Marketing), and three specialist units of study relating to crop production.

This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

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[More info & enrolment: ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED MANAGEMENT (CROPS) VBS001]

A course designed for people wishing to work or advance their careers in managerial or high technical positions within the horticultural crop industry. Modules include general horticultural skills and practices as well as specific studies such as  Commercial Vegetable Production, Fruit Production, Cut Flower Production, Organics, Herb Culture, Hydroponics, Irrigation, Engineering, Permaculture, Nuts, Berries and Mushrooms.
DURATION: Normally 3 years full time or 5-7 years part time, but may be completed in 2 years with extra effort.  This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.

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[More info & enrolment: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE (CROPS) VHT009]

For the enthusiast or commercial grower, covering all aspects of the care & cultivation of common, and uncommon, berry fruit; with the opportunity to specialise to some degree in one type of berry.

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[More info & enrolment: BERRY PRODUCTION BHT309]

A course for people working, or intending to work, in orchards or market gardens. 

The Core Units provide a foundation in general horticulture and are divided into the following sections:
1. Introduction to Plants -Taxonomy, plant families, pressing plants, basic botany.
2. Plant Culture -Planting, potting, plant selection, pruning, irrigation, tools and machinery.
3. Soils and Nutrition -Soil structure, chemistry, nutrition, potting media.
4. Plant Identification and Use -Seed harvesting and storage, germination treatments, cuttings, etc.
5. Pests, Diseases and Weeds -Identification and treatment (chemical and non-chemical)

The stream units which make up the second 50% include the following three modules:  Outdoor Plant Production, Protected Plant Production, and a final module focussed on one particulkar type of crop (you choose)

Internationally accredited by IARC

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[More info & enrolment: CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (CROPS) VHT002]

A 700 hr course for people working or wishing to work in the area of cut flower production. The Core Units are the same as for the above certificates (ie. Introduction to Plants, Plant Culture, Soils and Nutrition, Plant Identification and Use, Pests, Diseases and Weeds).
This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to the production and marketing of cut flowers. Accredited through International Accreditation & recognition Council

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[More info & enrolment: CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (CUT FLOWERS) VHT002]

 This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to organic growing.  The Core Units comprise fifteen lessons covering: Introduction to Plants, Plant Culture, Soils and Nutrition, Plant Identification and Use & Pests, Diseases and Weeds. A 700 hour accredited course designed to teach the principles and practices of growing plants using organic methods.
Accredited through International Accreditation & Recognition Council

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[More info & enrolment: CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (ORGANIC PLANT GROWING) VHT002]

A 700 hr course for people working, or intending to work, in the production of grapes. This course is similar to other VHT002 horticulture certificates in its introductory (core) units, but devotes 50% of the course to topics specifically related to the production of grapes for wine, drying or as fresh fruit.
The Core Units comprise fifteen and are divided into the following sections:

• Introduction to Plants
• Plant Culture
• Soils and Nutrition
• Plant Identification and Use
• Pests, Diseases and Weeds

Accredited through the International Accreditation & Recognition Council

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[More info & enrolment: CERTIFICATE IN HORTICULTURE (VITICULTURE) VHT002]

The demand for organically grown vegetables is currently a major growth area in commercial horticulture. This course is a good starting point in learning all aspects of organic vegetable production.

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[More info & enrolment: COMMERCIAL ORGANIC VEGETABLE GROWING VHT241]

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)

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[More info & enrolment: COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION BHT222]

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

 

 

Student comment (M.Simpson): "This course has been excellent.... I would be willing to recommend this course to any of my friends and colleagues

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[More info & enrolment: CROPS I (OUTDOOR PLANT PRODUCTION) BHT112]

A course for the enthusiast or commercial bulb grower. Learn to grow bulbs as a flower crop indoors (in a greenhouse) or in an open field.

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[More info & enrolment: CUT FLOWER BULBS BHT317]

Orchids occur naturally from very cold temperate climates through to tropical locations; and provided you choose appropriate species and treat them according to location, it is feasible to grow orchids as cut flowers almost anywhere. Orchids are one of the most commercially viable cut flower crops (partially due to their beaty, and also due to their long shelf life). Learn how to produce orchid flowers for the cut flower trade.

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[More info & enrolment: CUT FLOWER ORCHIDS VHT240]

Cut flower growing has experienced rapid expansion in recent decades, resulting in increased demand for training in the skills and knowledge required by this industry in increasingly affluent countries. This course provides a thorough basic training for the commercial cut flower grower.

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[More info & enrolment: CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION BHT221]

An eight lesson course that starts by introducing the fruit growing industry, and moves through most of the skills needed for successful fruit growing in a serious way. Topics covered include management, soils, planting, irrigation, pruning, cultural practices (including pest control), pome and stone fruits, and various vines, fruit trees and nuts.

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[More info & enrolment: FRUIT PRODUCTION -TEMPERATE CLIMATE BHT218]

Similar to the temperate fruit course, but adapted to cover tropical and sub-tropical conditions. The course includes sections on Avocados, Pineapples, Macadamias, Paw Paws and Cashews.

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[More info & enrolment: FRUIT PRODUCTION -WARM CLIMATE BHT217]

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

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[More info & enrolment: GREENHOUSE CUT FLOWERS VHT239]

Learn about the design, installation, maintenance, operation and evaluation of simple irrigation systems.

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. 

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

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[More info & enrolment: IRRIGATION - CROPS BHT304]

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.

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[More info & enrolment: MUSHROOM PRODUCTION BHT310]

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 thatr are of greater interest and relevance to you.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

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[More info & enrolment: NUT PRODUCTION BHT219]

Develop your broad understanding of practices and processes involved in successful plant cropping. It will develop a clear understanding of enviromental control and plant growth within a protective enviroment, together with a practical knowledge of plant husbandry techniques.

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[More info & enrolment: PROTECTED PLANT PRODUCTION BHT223]

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

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[More info & enrolment: SOIL MANAGEMENT - CROPS BHT303]

Ten lessons covering the history of viticulture, the current state of the industry, wine and table grapes, dried grapes, cultural practices (trellising, soils, planting, pruning, irrigation, pests & diseases); vineyard design, improving quality, harvest & post harvest procedures, winemaking, marketing and more.

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[More info & enrolment: VITICULTURE BHT220]

The content of this course is very similar to the "Growing Nuts" course, except this deals exclusively with nuts grown in the tropics and sub-tropics.

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[More info & enrolment: WARM CLIMATE NUTS BHT308]