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HOME PROPAGATION (BEGINNER'S) AHT106

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

LEARN THE ASPECTS OF PROPAGATION 

"Save Money by Propagating your own Garden Plants at Home".

A starter course for students with no previous experience of propagation.

  • Covers all aspects of plant propagation.
  • Develop knowledge to start and run your own propagation nursery.
  • Learn about seed, cuttings, grafting, division, layering, materials and equipment.
  • Learn all this from industry experts - our tutors!

Learn home Propagation 

Mastering this course is an excellent way to save money by propagating your own plants at home.

  • Indulge a passion
  • Enrich your garden
  • Maybe even start a small business

" Thanks for the videos, they are great! I got a lot of information from them. The Turf Management video is practical and easy to understand. Plant Propagation is a video every student should watch because out here in the real world no-one would give out such information. The Rose Growing Tape was very beneficial to me as I have about 60 odd roses. I thought I knew a little about them but this tape is a real eye-opener."
- Kelvin

 

How Are Plants Propagated?

There are many different ways of producing plants though most plants are produced commercially by either seed or cutting propagation. ‘Tissue culture’ or ‘micropropagation’ techniques carried out in a laboratory are sometimes used where very large numbers of one plant variety are required quickly, or where limited propagation stock is available. Other plants (e.g. roses, deciduous fruit and ornamental trees) are traditionally produced by budding and grafting onto seed or cutting grown root-stocks. Division and separation are commonly used for the propagation of bulbs and herbaceous perennials.

Other propagation techniques (e.g. layering or marcotting) may be important in the propagation of some specific types of plants; however they are relatively insignificant when taking a broad view of the nursery industry. You will learn more about these different methods in this useful course.

It's easy to enrol...

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Course Content

The ten lessons cover:

1.  Methods of Propagation
Propagation methods - sexual and asexual
Plant classification
Decisions before starting
Propagating in pots or the ground
Growth stages

2.  Propagating Structures and Techniques
Growing in a greenhouse
What can you grow?
Types of greenhouses
Heated or unheated
Siting a greenhouse -orientation, benches
Cold frames
Heated propagators
Shade houses - gable, flat roofed, flat arched, tunnel

3.  Propagating Materials
Common propagation media mixes
Components - vermiculite, perlite, sand
Rockwool
Peat
Potting media
Potting soil mixes
Pine bark
Factors affecting fertiliser application - cation exchange capacity, pH
Propagation containers
Containers for potting up plants
Propagation tools - secateurs, knives

4.  Seed Propagation
Introduction to seed propagation
Collecting and handling seed
Cross pollination
Disease
Desiccation
Time to collect seed
Germination fundamentals
Germination treatments - soaking, chilling, burning
Stimulating germination
Hygiene
Where to sow seed - containers, open bed, protected bed
Storing seeds
Seed storage viability factors
Types of seed storage -open, dry, cold, cold moist
Handling seedlings - watering, disease control, thinning, environmental control, transplanting
Pricking out or tubing seedlings
Propagating ferns from spore

5.  Propagating by Cuttings
Introduction
Why cuttings
How to propagate a cutting
Types of cuttings - the area of plant tissue used, the tenderness or age of tissue
Softwood cuttings
Semi hardwood cuttings
Hardwood cuttings
Treatment of the cutting
Herbaceous cuttings
Tip cuttings
Heel cuttings
Nodal cuttings
Basal cuttings
Cane cuttings
Root cuttings
Leaf cuttings
Other cuttings
Stock plants
Hormone treatment alternatives - auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins
Improving strike rate
How to maintain plants in pots -Potting, Feeding, Watering
Ventilation, light temperature
Growing on areas
Hardening off rooted cuttings
Labels
Miscellaneous Propagating Techniques
Layering
Types of layering - tip, mound, simple, compound, aerial
Natural layering - suckers, runners, offsets, crowns
Using parts of specialised stems and roots to propagate
Propagating bulbs from offsets
Bulblet formation on scales
Stem cuttings
Bulbils
Basal cuttage and scooping
Corm division
Tuber division
Culm cuttings
Pseudobulbs
Division of orchids
Dividing and separating perennials
Tissue culture

6.  Budding and Grafting
Reasons for budding and grafting
How a graft forms
Factors influencing graft healing - compatibility, temperature, moisture, polarity, etc
Carpentry of grafting
What can be grafted onto what
Types of grafts
Budding
Whip and Tongue graft
Top graft and side graft
Approach graft
Other graft types - nurse seed, irrigated, root
Lilac grafting
Soft tissue grafting
Grafting tapes

7.  Propagation of Specific Plants
Choosing species to propagate
Nursery Management
Specialist nurseries
Typical propagation methods for selected plants

8.  Layout and Organisation of a Propagating Area
Plants and water
Understanding water excess and deficiency
Greenhouse irrigation methods
Runoff and leachate
Irrigation practices
Irrigation systems for propagation
Pulse watering
Water cans
Pest and Disease management - cleanliness, U.C. system, IPM
Diseases
Pests
Nursery nutrition
Plant modification methods
 
 
 What will you do in the course? Some examples -
  •     Obtain leaflets or catalogues plus prices for a range of plant container
  •     Obtain samples of at least 6 different potting soil components and make up a mix which could be used for general potting of outdoor shrubs and trees into 6 inch pots.
  •     Collect samples of at least six types of plant labels.
  •     Collect at least three different types of seed to plant and germinate.
  •     Obtain catalogues or price lists from at least six companies or organisations which supply seed.
  •     Put in cuttings of at least three different types of plants.
  •     Use diagrams to explain how you would grow four different cuttings.
  •     Contact a bulb or herb farm to research the type of propagation program they have.
  •     Carry out aerial layering.
  •     Practice budding and grafting.
  •     Prepare a work schedule for a propagation set up.
  •     Design the layout for a new nursery or propagation area which would be ideal for your purposes.

Why You Should Study This Course

Anyone who loves plants and enjoys challenging themselves will have fun with this course. You'll learn practical techniques to help you reproduce any plants you desire. It's not all about reading though, you will put what you learn into practice through our set tasks and assignments. With tutor feedback you'll end up with the confidence to grow all sorts of plants you perhaps never realised you could. The course is suited to people in any of the following areas:

  • Gardening
  • Nursery & propagation
  • Home gardening
  • Market gardening
  • General horticulture

 

WHY CHOOSE US?

  • Reputation: well-known and respected in horticulture.
  • Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations.
  • Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others.
  • Handson: develop practical as well as theoretical skills.
  • Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors (faculty of internationally renowned horticulturists).
  • Efficient: prompt responses to your questions.
  • A Long Track Record: established in 1979 with a solid history.
  • Up to date: courses under constant review.
  • Resources:  huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property.
  • Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis.
  • Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks, acs garden online resources.

 

 

WHAT NEXT?

Register to Study - Go to “It’s Easy to Enrol” box at the top of the page and you can enrol now.

or

Get Advice –  Email us at info@acsedu.co.uk  OR

Use our FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE to contact a tutor

CLICK TO CONTACT US

 

 

 
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Diana Cole (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Permaculturist, Landscaper, Environmentalist. Holds a Diploma in Horticulture, degree in geography, permaculture certificate and various other qualifications. Between 1985 and 94, Diana was a task leader with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Since 2001 she has been chairperson of the Friends of Mellor Park (with Stockport MDC). From 2005 she has worked exclusively in horticulture as proprietor of her own garden design and consultancy business in and around Derbyshire; and at the same time as part time manager of a small garden centre. Diana has been an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable tutor with ACS since 2008.
Maggi BrownMaggi 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. She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more than three decades. Some of Maggi's qualifications include RHS Cert. Hort. Cert. Ed. Member RHS Life Member Garden Organic (HDRA) .


Check out our eBooks

Plant Pests & DiseasesAre you one of those people that kill every plant you touch? Perhaps it's not you. Perhaps it's a pest or disease. A little bit of reading might just turn your garden into an oasis. Learn how to identify pests and diseases and bring the spring back into your plant...visit the bookshop to find out more...
Starting a Garden or Landscape BusinessExpert advice on how to get started in your own garden or landscape business! Packed with valuable business advice, horticultural and landscaping knowledge, and practical ideas - this book is a must have for garden lovers. It is great for anyone thinking about (or already involved in), a horticultural, landscaping or garden business. This updated re-print is only available as an ebook.
WeedsThis book helps you understand different types of weeds, and how to control them. Many of the more commonly occurring weeds around the world are both illustrated and described.
What to Plant WhereA great guide for choosing the right plant for a particular position in the garden. Thirteen chapters cover: plant selection, establishment, problems, and plants for wet areas. Shade, hedges and screens, dry gardens, coastal areas, small gardens, trees and shrubs, lawns and garden art.