Cut Flower Production

Lesson Structure: Cut Flower Production BHT221

There are 10 lessons:

Introduction to Cut Flower Production
To develop a broad perspective on the nature and scope of the cut flower industry.
Soils & Nutrition
Determine soil and nutrition requirements for cut flower growing
Cultural Practices
Determine the cultural requirements for commercial production of a cut flower crop
Flower Initiation & Development
Explain the physiological processes which affect flower development in plants
Pest & Disease Control
Determine the cultural requirements for commercial production of a cut flower crop
Australian Natives & Related Plants
Evaluate the suitability of different plants as cut flower crops
Greenhouse Culture
Determine the cultural requirements for commercial production of a cut flower crop
Harvest & Post Harvest
Determine harvest and post-harvest management practices for cut flower crop
Developing A Production Plan
Develop a production plan for a cut flower crop
Export Marketing
Develop a production plan for a cut flower crop

This course is taught by:

Katie Freeth
BSc. (Hons) Horticulture, (University of Bath); RHS General Examination; FI Hort; MIfpra.

An experienced and professional horticulturist with extensive management skills gained internationally; experienced in landscape management, staff supervision and management, written and oral communication, horticultural knowledge and application, supported by organisational and administrative skills and attention to detail.

Katie brings 20 years experience in Horticulture and is an accomplished lecturer, horticulture consultant and freelance writer. Katie is a judge for the International Awards for Liveable Communities in the Whole City Category.
Katie also worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in France for approx 5 years first as a Sector Manager and then as an Area Manager; management of the cemeteries, peripatetic teams of gardeners (UK & French nationality) for the constructed cemeteries and memorials and static French nationality gardeners for small town/village plots.

Susan Stephenson
BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.
City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)
Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

Susan is a Professional Associate and exam moderator and holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

She also supervised the Area Arboriculture Team and was Exhumations Officer€“ in charge of collecting discovered remains and arranging identification (if poss) and interment of same.
Practicals:

Describe the botanical mechanisms involved in the process of flower initiation for different plant genera.
Explain the effect of carbon dioxide enrichment on flowering for a specified plant species.
Determine the factors causing aging of flowers in different genera of commercially grown cut flowers.
Compare three different treatments to preserve cut flowers after harvest, including:
Glycerine
Drying
Pressing
Determine procedures to produce cut flowers out of season for different cut flower species.
Compile a resource file of different sources of information regarding commercial cut flower varieties, including: *Publications *Suppliers of seed and/or planting stock *Industry associations *Relevant government contacts.
Describe herbaceous perennials suitable to cut flower growing in a specific locality.
Describe annuals and biennials suitable to flower growing in a specific locality.
Describe bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers suitable for cut flower growing in a specific locality.
Describe plant varieties commonly used as fillers in the floristry trade.
Differentiate between twenty different plants