Horticulture (Herbs) 600 Hours Diploma

This course is made up of the following two PARTS:

1. CORE STUDIES - at least 350 hours of study, or half the course. The student completes 15 lessons on general horticulture.
2. STREAM STUDIES - a further 300-350 hrs of study specifically on herbs. The student completes 3 additional elective modules on the cultivation, uses, and marketing of herbs.

Core Studies
These involve 15 lessons in general horticulture, as follows:

1. Introduction to Plants
   • Nomenclature and taxonomy, the plant kingdom, genus, species, hybrids
2. Parts of the Plant
   • How plants grow, plant structure, parts of the flower and leaf, modification of stems and roots
3. Plant Culture
   • Planting - How to plant and protect newly planted specimens, terms like: annuals, biennials, perennials, deciduous, evergreen and herbaceous plants
4. Plant CulturePruning
   • Purposes of pruning, rules for pruning, how to prune
5. Plant Culture
   • Irrigation and Machinery - Different irrigation systems, components of an irrigation system, designing an irrigation system, maintenance in the garden and of tools
6. Soils and Media
   • Soil classifications, testing soil, potting mixes, the U.C. System, ingredients of potting mixes
7. Soils and Nutrition
   • Fertilisers, deficiencies and toxicities, N:P:K ratios, salting, fertiliser programming, compost
8. Propagation
   • Seeds and Cuttings - How to propagate plants with the two easiest techniques, propagating mixes, cold frame construction, after care for young plants
9. Propagation
   • Other Techniques - Other methods to increase plant numbers - budding, grafting, layering, division and tissue culture
10. Identification and Use of Plants
    • How are plants used in the landscape, how to choose and purchase plants, selecting plants suitable for the climate and site
11. Identification and Use of Plants
    • Problems with plants and choosing plants for problem site
12. Identification and Use of Plants
    • Indoor and Tropical Plants, flowers, herbs, bulbs, ferns
13. Pests
    • Identifying and controlling pests, chemical and natural methods for control, chemical safety precautions
14. Diseases
    • Identifying and controlling diseases, plant pathology, fungi, viruses, non pathogenic problems, interactions with the host and the environment
15. Weeds
    • Identifying and controlling weeds, chemical terminology.

Stream studies:

• Herb Culture BHT114

PLUS any TWO of the following:

1. Aromatherapy VHT104
2. Culinary Herbs VHT242
3. Medicinal Herbs BHT227
4. Lavender BHT228
5. Scented Plants BHT229

EXAMS: There are two exams for the core and 3 for the stream (one for each stream module) Exam fees are included in the tuition costs.

The quality of this course is second to none, from the in-depth learning you will get to the expert individual mentoring you will receive throughout your studies. The mentors for this course are:

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.

In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.

Susan 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.

Steven Whitaker

Diploma in Garden Design (Distinction) – The Blackford Centre, Gold Certificate of Achievement in Horticulture, Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture, Level 1 NOCN Introduction to Gardening, – Joseph Priestly College, BTEC Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Operations (Merit), Trainer Skills 1, & 2, Group trainer, Interview and Selection Skills – Kirby College of Further Education

Steven has a wealth of Horticultural knowledge, having ran his own Design and Build service, Landscaping company, and been a Head Gardener. His awards include five Gold awards at Leeds in Bloom, two Gold awards at Yorkshire in Bloom and The Yorkshire Rose Award for Permanent Landscaping. Steven has worked with TV’s Phil Spencer as his garden advisor on the Channel 4 TV Programme, “Secret Agent”.

He is qualified to Level 2 NVQ in Amenity Horticulture and has a Diploma in Garden Design which he passed with Distinction. Steven’s Tutor and Mentor was the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Award-winning Garden Designer, Tracy Foster. He also works for a major Horticultural Commercial Grower in the field of Propagation and Craft Gardening. Steven lives in Leeds where he is a Freelance Garden Designer and Garden Advice Consultant.