Horticulture - Commercial Foundation Degree - Part Time

This course is designed to support applicants with busy lives who are perhaps working already in the industry or busy lives in other areas.

Applicants working in the industry may wish to upskill or work towards a formal degree level qualification to complement their industry experience.

The course will have opportunities to learn skills in essential areas of commercial horticulture including protected crops and systems such as hydroponics which are delivered in our state of the art Venlo glasshouse with 3 separate growing areas and a vertical growing farm.

Ornamental horticulture is delivered allowing students to develop skills in propagation, growing on and marketing of a range of ornamental plants in our bespoke heated polytunnel and making full use of our propagation systems. All plants grown are used in our own 10 acre formal garden or sold via our weekly pop up plant sales. Cut flowers are also grown in a dedicated area and bulbs forced. All the skills are delivered to students through practical experience and lectures.

All students will learn all areas of production but for those with a keen interest in fruit or viticulture we have a orchard and vineyard which are grown using innovative and sustainable techniques employing robots, drones, apple harvesters, blossom thinners, mechanical weeders and also more traditional equipment and techniques. We have top fruit grown under plastic with cooling systems, apples on a fertigation system and frost protection across the orchard and vineyard - all this technology is delivered as part of the course.

The practical side is supported with plant and soil science which is essential for all horticulturists to enable them to produce the best crop and is delivered by lectures and practical sessions both in the lab and field. Pest and disease knowledge is incorporated along with postharvest which is an important area of fresh produce and therefore has its own module.

The course enjoys close links with industry who support practical elements including, visits and guest speakers.