HOR 204 Winter Horticulture Practicum

Lecture Hours: 1
Lab Hours: 3
Credits: 2

Applies practical horticultural skills and techniques used in the winter in the areas of nursery, greenhouse, and organic food production. Includes plant propagation, soil and media preparation, transplanting, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and growth regulation. Provides skills and experience in crop scheduling, production, processing, marketing, and sales. Industry field trips and guest lectures included.

Prerequisite: HOR 111, HOR 211, and SOIL 205; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses mus be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Apply principles of plant propagation to plant production in the greenhouse, nursery, and student-run farm.
Prepare soil and soilless media for crop production.
Use best management practices in soil, water, and fertilizer management
Manage crop pests using appropriate monitoring, identification and management techniques.
Monitor crop production progress and evaluate crop success.
Apply industry standard sanitation measures.
Prepare crops for market, transport, display, and sale.

Content Outline

Practical Technical Skills to Use in Greenhouse, Nursery, and Organic Food Production
- Propagation
  - Seed production
  - Plug production
  - Cuttings production
  - Grafting/budding
  - Layering
- Soil and soilless media
  - Measure pH and nutrient availability
  - Add amendments based on crop needs
  - Mixing of soilless media components based on crop needs
  - Prepare beds for crop production
- Transplanting
- Growth regulation
  - Rooting hormone
  - Physical pinching
  - DIF
- Irrigation
  - Timing
  - Amount
- Fertilization
  - Timing
  - Amount
  - Measuring EC
- Pest management
  - Monitoring
  - Identification
  - Management options
- Crop scheduling
  - Greenhouse crops
  - Nursery crops
  - Vegetable crops
- Plant spacing
- Sanitation
  - Plant materials
  - Equipment
  - Containers
- Retail operational skills
  - Customer service
  - Display design and maintenance
  - Inventory management
  - Sales