Propagation

Overview

What you will learn

The objective of the Propagation course offered by Warnborough College is to:

• develop skills and knowledge about propagating different types of plants by seed, cuttings, budding and grafting, separation, division and layering in a commercially viable way.

• develop skills and knowledge about tools, equipment & growing structures used in a nursery for plant production.

• develop general skills in horticultural practices and plant identification.

What You Will Do

• Collect seed from and propagate different varieties of plants with that seed.

• Describe the method and time of year used to propagate at least 200 different plant varieties.

• Draw and label the parts of a seed.

• Explain how a seed germinates, and grows in the early stages of its development.

• Explain a variety of different harvest and post harvest treatments for seed.

• Explain a variety of pre-germination treatments for seed.

• Collect, identify and prepare cuttings for at least 50 different varieties of plants.

• Propagate from cuttings and successfully grow on ten different plant varieties to the stage of a saleable tube.

• Mix and use a propagation media suited to propagating cuttings and seed.

• Explain the reasons why particular propagation methods are preferred to other methods.

• Explain the propagation of at least 40 different varieties of plants by grafting or budding.

• Prepare examples of at least ten different types of grafts.

• Successfully execute at least ten grafts using at least ten different plant variety combinations.

• Propagate fifteen different plants by methods including separation, division and layering.

• Explain tissue culture techniques and their commercial relevance in plant production.

• Consider site features which are important to the operation of a nursery.

• Explain different nursery production systems.

• Construct a simple inexpensive cold frame.

• Prepare a routine maintenance program for plants in a production nursery.

• Analyse and report on the operation of two different production nurseries.

• Prepare a floor plan for the interior layout of a propagation/potting area.

• Describe how to pot up and plant out at least 20 different types of plants.

• Describe soils and potting media in terms of texture, structure and water holding and nutrient holding capacity.

• Prescribe methods of improving soil structure, infiltration rate, water holding capacity, drainage and aeration.

• Describe how to grow plants successfully in containers.

• Describe suitable potting mixes for container growing of five different types of plants.

• List safety procedures to be followed in a nursery.

• Show an awareness of irrigation equipment and its operation in a nursery.

• Explain growing structures and equipment used to enhance the propagation of plants including, hot beds, misting, fogging, cold frames and greenhouses.