Horticulture

1
Horticulture

• Unit 1
• To obtain an overview of the horticulture
  industry and jobs available in the field so that
  a career choice can be made

2
Definitions

• Horticulture The processing, cultivation, and
  sale of fruits, vegetables, nuts, ornamental
  plants, and flowers.
• Pomology The science and practice of growing,
  harvesting, handling, storing, processing and
  marketing fruit trees
• Olericulture The science and practice of
  growing, harvesting, storing, processing and
  marketing vegetables.

• Floriculture The science and practice of
  growing, harvesting, storing, designing, and
  marketing flowering plants.
• Landscape and Nursery Industry The science and
  practice of propagating, maintaining, and using
  grasses, annual plants, shrubs, and trees in the
  landscape.

3
Careers in Horticulture

• Greenhouse worker Screen, mix, and sterilize
  soil, sow seed, start cuttings, and transplant
  seedlings and plants. Water, weed, prune, thin,
  fertilize and spray growing plants. Involves a
  great deal of manual labor. Qualifications are a
  high school diploma with vocational courses in
  agriculture.
• Nursery Employee Grows seedlings and plants for
  landscaping, fruit production and forest
  plantings. Mostly works outside and in the
  greenhouse. Includes manual labor.
  Qualifications are HS diploma, plant knowledge.
• Garden Center Employee Caring for plants,
  moving plants and supplies for display, selling,
  and arranging displays. Qualifications include
  HS diploma, plant knowledge and good people and
  communication skills

• Maintenance employee Cares for the area
  surrounding industrial bldg, businesses,
  churches, schools, airports, etc. Responsible
  for planting and care of lawns and ornamental
  plants. Mostly outdoor work. Qualifications
  include being able to work alone, enjoying
  working with plants, tools and small garden
  equipment. Should have high school diploma.
• Golf course employee Responsible for the
  overall maintenance of golf courses. Care for
  the turf, install irrigation and drainage
  equipment, clean and maintain sand traps, change
  location of cups, prune shrubs and trees, replace
  soil and repair equipment as needed.
  Qualifications are good health, enjoy working
  outdoors, get along with others and a high
  school education.

4

• Opportunities for College Graduates
• Each year, there are about 14 more jobs in
  agriculture than there are graduates to fill
  them. Included are landscape architect,
  teacher, plant breeder, sales, greenhouse
  manager, garden center manager, pesticide
  specialist, consultant, researcher, officer
  supervisor, plant disease specialist, nursery
  manager, pest control specialist, landscape
  contractor, forester, etc.

• City, State or National Park Employee A park
  employee does the work necessary for maintenance
  of the park. Includes maintaining trees, shrubs,
  flowers, and lawns. Work will include mowing
  grass, edging, planting, pruning, and caring for
  trees, shrubs, hedges, lawns and flower beds,
  controlling insects, diseases, weeds and caring
  for the soil. Work is outdoors and manual labor.
  Qualifications include HS diploma and health.

5
The Future of the Horticulture Industry

• The horticulture industry is in a state of rapid
  growth. It is full of career opportunities and
  is making use of the newest technology.
• Production of horticulture crops will increase in
  demand.
• Service Industries such as production of seeds,
  fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, growth
  regulators, hand tools, and equipment are needed.
• Marketing and distribution of horticulture
  products will increase in volume.

• Inspection services by governmental agencies for
  both fresh and processed product will employ more
  workers. Private firms will also employ field
  inspectors to spot diseases and insect outbreaks.
• Teaching and extension workers will be needed to
  work with producers with the quickly changing
  technologies.
• Research demands will greater as more plants
  species are developed.

6
Student Activities

• 1. Using the telephone book, make a list of
  horticulture businesses in our area.
• 2. Using the local newspaper, list the
  horticulture jobs advertised in the classified.
• 3. Select one business and interview the owner
  and several employees. Write a paper on the jobs
  available and the duties and working conditions
  involved with each job.
• 4. Write to your local agriculture college (or
  e-mail) and ask about jobs offered to its
  graduates in horticulture and the colleges
  placement services.
• 5. Complete the self evaluation at the end of
  the chapter