Principles of Horticulture: Level 2

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The Royal Horticultural Society's Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture is an internationally recognised qualification designed for those just starting out in gardening as well as experienced gardeners. This course will equip you with the knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles that underpin horticultural practices.

This course is part-funded by the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) or Greater London Authority (GLA) for those that are eligible. horticulture, the branch of plant agriculture dealing with garden crops, generally fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The word is derived from the Latin hortus, “garden,” and colere, “to cultivate.” As a general term, it covers all forms of garden management, but in ordinary use it refers to intensive commercial production. In terms of scale, horticulture falls between domestic gardening and field agriculture, though all forms of cultivation naturally have close links. Temperate zones for horticulture cannot be defined exactly by lines of latitude or longitude but are usually regarded as including those areas where frost in winter occurs, even though rarely. Thus, most parts of Europe, North America, and northern Asia are included, though some parts of the United States, such as southern Florida, are considered subtropical. A few parts of the north coast of the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean islands are also subtropical. In the Southern Hemisphere, practically all of New Zealand, a few parts of Australia, and the southern part of South America have temperate climates. For horticultural purposes altitude is also a factor; the lower slopes of great mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, are included. Thus, the temperate zones are very wide and the range of plants that can be grown in them is enormous, probably greater than in either the subtropical or tropical zones. In the temperate zones are the great coniferous and deciduous forests: pine, spruce, fir, most of the cypresses, the deciduous oaks (but excluding many of the evergreen ones), ash, birch, and linden.

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RBGE does not offer the RHS Level 2 Practical Certificate. If you wish to complete the full level 2 certificate you must study this part elsewhere. Everything you need to know to help you pass the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture. View course All Gardening courses The course will run online and offers a structural approach to learning with a timetable of suggested time commitments to enable you to pace your studies with support from dedicated expert tutors.

The temperate zones are also the areas of the grasses—the finest lawns particularly are in the regions of moderate or high rainfall—and of the great cereal crops. Rice is excluded as being tropical, but wheat, barley, corn (maize), and rye grow well in the temperate zones. This theory course will allow you to develop a level of plant knowledge deemed essential by the horticultural industries. There is no sharp line of demarcation between the tropics and the subtropics. Just as many tropical plants can be cultivated in the subtropics, so also many subtropical and even temperate plants can be grown satisfactorily in the tropics. Elevation is a determining factor. For example, the scarlet runner bean, a common plant in temperate regions, grows, flowers, and develops pods normally on the high slopes of Mount Meru in Africa near the Equator, but it will not set pods in Hong Kong, a subtropical situation a little south of the Tropic of Cancer but at a low elevation. This fifth edition has been restructured to bring it in to line with the most recent RHS syllabus, adding new material on the basis of science for horticulturists. The book contains beginning of chapter summaries, highlighted definitions and key points, and end of chapter test your learning questions. Each chapter ends with references for further reading. This course is divided into two separate certificates which you can study independently or together, these are:When both are certificates are completed, students are awarded the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture. Each course can also be studied independently. ThePrinciples of Plant Growth and DevelopmentLevel 2 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) course is a nationally-recognised, one-year, part-time qualification for those wishing to pursue a professional career in horticulture. Also, welcoming amateur gardeners who wish to have their horticultural knowledge formally assessed. If you’re undertaking the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture there are a number of potential book titles to choose from. The course assesses the knowledge of the scientific principles underpinning horticultural practices and supports career development. The RHS Level 2 online course is suitable for everyone from gardeners looking to expand their knowledge of plants, garden design and wildlife to those already in horticulture careers or planning a career change.

Principles of Horticulture is an excellent introduction to the study of all aspects of the subject. Written in an accessible and readable style it explains the principles that underlie the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables, turf, ornamental planting in outdoors and in protected culture; commercially as well as in the garden and on the allotment. Readers ranging from first time students at the beginning of their careers in horticulture through to seasoned gardeners with many years of practical experience will find it essential reading. Instruction is carried out by highly qualified tutors in the extensive ornamental grounds, plant nursery, woodlands areas at the college. Merrist Wood has developed a considerable reputation for horticulture and for it’s award-winning gardens designed and built at RHS Flower Shows. The diverse range of plants in the college’s 400 acre estate, together with purpose-designed buildings, including lecture rooms, laboratories, library facilities and computer suites. Join this flourishing environment for horticulture students!Mike Early MSc, BSc Hons, DTA, Cert Ed., formerly a lecturer in horticulture science at Oaklands College, St. Albans, now works as a landscape gardener.