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Herb Culture
Herb Culture 100 Hours Certificate Course
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Learn About Herb Culture
Herb Culture course online. Develop a solid grounding in herb growing and the herb industry. Half of the course deals with general herb culture, including identification, soils, mulching, feeding, watering, propagation, pest & disease control, harvest, storage, processing, companion planting, nursery management and herb farming.
The remainder of the course involves detailed studies of major groups of herbs such as: mints, thymes, lavenders, scented geraniums, garlic, roses, artemisias and parsley.
Course Information
Other Categories
Lessons
Lesson Structure: Herb Culture BHT114
There are 12 lessons:
1 Â Introduction To Herb Culture
- Unit I: Introduction to herbs, definitions, uses. Classification of herbs; use of a botanical key.
- Unit II: Cultural Techniques…planting, soils, drainage, feeding, mulching, composting, pruning.
- Unit III: Propagation Techniques…propagation mixes, growing structures, cuttings, seed, separation & division, layering.
- Unit IV: Identification of plant health problems…pest & disease, frost, heat, water stress, etc.
2 Â Using Herbs
- Unit I: Processing & Use of Herbs Medicinal, culinary, perfumes, dyes, oils, distillation processes, etc.
- Unit II: Harvesting & Storage Air drying, oven drying, microwave drying, freezing, fresh storage, when & how to harvest.
3 Â The Mints (Lamiaceae)
- Unit I: Mentha species: Peppermint, spearmint, applemint, wintermint, pennyroyal, corsican, ginger mint etc.
- Unit II: Lavender (Lavendula varieties) & thyme (Thymus).
- Unit III: Assorted Lamiaceae varieties: Lemon Balm, Hyssop, Rosemary, Bee Balm (Monarda), Basil, Savory, Marjoram, Sage.
4 Â The Daisies (Asteraceae)
- Lesson I: Artemisia species…Southernwood, Wormwood, Tarragon, Mugwort.
- Lesson II: Miscellaneous Asteraceae: Chamomile, Tansy, Safflower, Costmary, Yarrow, Calendula, Dandelion etc.
5 Â The Parsley Family (Apiaceae)
- Parsley, Coriander, Dill, Caraway, Angelica, Cumin, Fennel, Lovage, Sweet Cicely etc.
6 Â The Onion Group
- Unit I: Chives, Leek, Garlic chives, Tree onion, Welsh onion, etc.
- Unit II: Garlic
7 Â Other Herbs
- Unit I: Rosaceae (Rose, Burnet, Strawberry, blackberry, etc)
- Unit II: Miscellaneous: Lemon grass, Lemon verbena, Bay, Sorrel, Dock, Juniper, Horseradish, Evening Primrose, etc.
- Unit III: Scented Geraniums; Australian Natives, Eucalyptus and Others
8 Â Pests & Diseases
- Unit I: Companion Planting
- Unit II: Natural Pest Control: Herb sprays, biological control, etc.
9 Â Landscaping
- Unit I: Landscape Design Principles and Practices: How to draw a landscape plan
- Unit II: Home Gardening With Herbs; Cottage gardens, hedges & borders, tubs, baskets, kitchen gardens, herb lawns, herb indoor plants.
- Unit III: Public Landscaping: Historic herb grdens (Knot gardens etc), herbs for low maintenance & colour in parks..etc.
10 Â Herb Farming I
- Establishing & Operating a Herb Nursery: Open ground vs container growing, nursery layout, potting soils, pots and labels, marketing, etc.
11 Herb Farming II
- Establishing & Operating a Herb Farm: Soil Preparation and management (plastic mulch, organic mulches, cultivation), row cropping.
12 Herb Farming III
- Evaluating Herb enterprises, assessing market demand. Deciding how to proceed.
Learning Goals
Learning Goals: Herb Culture BHT114
- Understand the history of herbs, the major family groups, and keys to identification
- Understand soil management and structure and the general cultivation requirements of herbs. Understand composting
- Understand the various methods of propagation, both sexual and asexual, the treatments generally used for seed storage and the handling of cutting material. Have knowledge of type of structures used for propagation
- Become familiar with common pest and diseases and the various control methods
- Understand harvesting processes and the general use of commonly grown herbs
- Understand the processes involved with the correct harvest and storage of herbs and the type of material harvested from individual species
- Understand and recognise the genus Mentha
- Become familiar with plants in the Lamiaceae family
- Recognise the genus Artemisia
- Become familiar with herbs belonging to the Asteracae family
- Become familiar with plants belonging to the Apiaceae family
- Become familiar with the plants of the Liliaceae family
- Become familiar with the cultural methods used to grow garlic
- Become familiar with plants in the Rosaceae family
- Recognise herbs from within miscellaneous plant families
- Understand the cultural requirements and uses of the scented Pelargoniums
- Understand the use of Australian Natives as an alternative herb crop and also in landscape situations
- Understand the concepts and applications of companion planting in the role of controlling pests and diseases
- Understand the fundamentals of natural pest control
- Recognise and understand the principles of landscape design and their practice
- Use of herbs in the home landscaping environment
- Understand the concepts and procedures involved of the use of herbs in the public landscape
- Research the establishment requirements of a herb nursery and have knowledge of the operating procedures
- An ability to research the establishment requirements of a herb farm and have knowledge of the operating procedures
- Analyse the herb industry and decision making
Practical (Set Tasks)
Examinations
Program Summary
More Information
Your tutor for this course is:
Assessment
Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.
In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.Â
Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.
How our courses work
- Choose Your Learning Method
You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline. - Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited. - Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit.  - Set Tasks and Self-Tests
Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests. - Exams
Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead.
Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this. - Design Your Own Qualification
ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.
General
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.
Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.
Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.
Assessment
Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.
Qualifications
Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.
Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
Career Options
What's Included
What You Will Do:
- Distinguish, using illustrations and minimum but adequate comments; between major plant families which herbs belong to.
- Compile a resource file of fifty different sources of information regarding cultivated herbs.
- Prepare an herbarium collection of one hundred different herb varieties.
- Develop guidelines for the general culture of herbs in your locality.
- Explain six different propagation methods suitable for herbs, using illustrations.
- Demonstrate how to prepare cuttings for three different herb varieties.
- Propagate three different varieties of commercially farmed herbs, using appropriate, but different propagation techniques for each.
- Explain natural pest and disease control methods for a specified herb species.
- Explain the concept of companion planting, including three examples of proven companion planting interrelationships.
- Write a maintenance schedule for either a herb garden, nursery or farm.
- Describe two different harvesting techniques for herbs, by outlining the steps to follow for each.
- Determine criteria which are critical to success in the process of drying herbs.
- Compare two different drying processes for herbs, with reference to:
- equipment used
- procedure
- cost.
- Produce two marketable herb products by harvesting, and processing material from a herb plant.
- Prepare five different herbal products for home use.
- Estimate the costs associated with processing four different herbs to a marketable stage, itemising the components of costs for each.
- Determine ten different species of herbs which have potential to be grown commercially as broad acre crops in your locality.
- Describe the process of producing a specified commercial herb crop being grown organically.
- Describe the process of producing a commercial herb crop being grown hydroponically.
- Compare broad-acre production methods, used for three different herbs, including: *propagation *planting *crop management *harvesting *post-harvest processing; by constructing a table or chart.
- Design a simple trial, to test the commercial potential of different varieties of a specific herb species.
- Conduct the simple trial you designed recording details of tasks undertaken.
- Analyse the results of the trial conducted to test the performance of a herb plants.
- Determine the variety with greatest commercial potential from those trialled.
- Prepare flow-sheet broad acre crop production schedules for four herbs; one each from Allium, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae groups.
- Determine minimum facilities required to produce saleable plants in a specified herb nursery.
- Prepare a potting media suitable for growing a container herb plant of a specified species, as nursery stock.
- Describe the procedures used in a commercial herb nursery, to produce plants for sale.
- Differentiate between the procedures used for production of different products in a herb nursery, including:
- Punnets of seedling herbs
- Bare rooted plants
- Standard container plants
- Hanging baskets
- Topiary.
- Grow a herb plant to a commercially acceptable standard, as a tubestock container plant, through all stages of production, without supervision.
- Prepare production schedules for two herbs from four different minor herb groups, for a specified nursery.
- Explain the use of general landscape principles and practices in the designs of two different herb gardens.
- Determine different applications for herbs in home gardens.
- Determine applications for herbs in public landscaping, referring to both difficulties and advantages in different situations.
- Design for a herb garden for a site of between 30 and 100 square metres surveyed by you, preparing a scale drawing showing the placement of at least 20 different varieties of herbs.
- Explain the reasoning behind the herb garden designed.
- Determine critical factors to establishing a new herb business, in your locality.
- Analyse the business operations of a specified herb enterprise.
- Assess market demand for a herbal product, through a phone survey and information search.
- Compare the commercial potential of three different types of herb enterprises, in your locality.
Excerpt From The Course
ROSE FAMILY (ROSACEAE)
Approximately 100 genera and 2000species, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees.
LEAVES mainly alternate.
FLOWERS are regular with 4‑5 petals and sepals, Stamens 5 too many borne on edge of calyx tube, ovary superior or inferior; fruit is a berry, pome or drupe.
Genera include: Cotoneaster, Cretagus, Cydonia, Eriobotrya, Filipendula, Fragaria, Geum, Kerria, Malus, Neillia, Photinia, Prunus, Pyracantha, Pyrus, Raphiolepis, Rubus, Sanguisorba (Burnet), Sorbus and Spiraea.
ROSES
There are species and varieties of the genus “Rosa” which can be grown in almost any climate, provided the right type is chosen for the particular situation. Most species tend to adapt better to cooler climates than to warmer climates.
Roses are broadly divided into the following groups:
BUSH ROSES: These grow into an upright bush up to about 2 metres tall. The three main types are: Hybrid Teas (give the biggest and best flowers), floribundas (greater quantity but less quality in the flowers, and grandifloras. Some old world species are grown as bush types also, but these are less common.
STANDARD ROSES: These are budded onto long, single, upright stems giving the effect of the bush sitting high in the air on a pole. Standard roses are anything from 1 to 3 metres tall.
RAMBLERS: These are very vigorous, usually untidy growers which make a lot of new growth each year from the base. They have large quantities of small flowers in bunches.
CLIMBING ROSES:Â These have fewer basal shoots, larger flowers either individual or in small clusters, and solid, thick climbing stems.
MINIATURE ROSES: Growing from 1 to 2 ft tall, stems are thinner and flowers are smaller than normal bush roses. In affect, they appear as scaled down versions of the floribundas or hybrid teas.
Culture
*Roses prefer full sun for at least half of the day. As they have a shallow fibrous root system, avoid planting near large trees which have shallow spreading roots.
*Most soils, provided they are not waterlogged, are acceptable. Roses tolerate a wide variety of soil types, but do prefer reasonable drainage.
*Watering is essential if a rose is to flower well. Mulching can help. Don’t let them dry out. It’s better to make a dish in the soil at the base of a plant and fill it with water to allow slow penetration. You are better not to water the foliage.
*Roses do respond well to feeding. Don’t allow the roots to come in contact with strong (i.e. concentrated) fertiliser though as they will burn. A slow release fertiliser or well rotted manure is best.
*Annual winter pruning is essential to both rejuvenate the plant and to encourage growth of young wood (flowers form on these young shoots; the more young shoots, the more flowers). Usually (in temperate climates) at least half of the top growth is removed each winter.
Plants pruned regularly can last more than 100 years.
*Roses are largely sold bare rooted in winter. You will buy the best selection of plants early winter when they are first released onto the market.
*Aphis and caterpillars are major problems. They can be controlled with suitable insecticides Black spot, mildew and rust are common fungal problems fungicides are normally used to control these).
*In snow areas cut plants back very hard (i.e. 95%) and cover with straw over winter.
(NB: Roses are usually budded. Do not cut below the bud).
Career Opportunities
FAQ - RHS Theory Qualifications
GENERALÂ
If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]
Q:Â When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL?
A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.
Q:Â I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas?
A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.
Q: Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification?
A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.
Q:Â Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)?
A:Â The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.
Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications.
A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.
Q:Â What Does ADL Course Material Include?
A:Â Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.
RHS EXAMS
Q:Â When Do Exams Take Place?
A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute
Q:Â Where Do I Take My Exams?
A:Â UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.
Q:Â Exam Pass Marks?
A:  Module – pass 50%.  Commendation 70%.
Qualification:Â 50% pass for all modules.
Commendation awarded for all modules.
Each question carries a value of 10 marks.
Q: I’m Not Happy With My Exam Results?
A:Â You have the opportunity to re-sit your exam at the next opportunity.
There are no restrictions on the number of re-sits you can take. The highest mark you achieve will remain.,