Lesson Structure:   Berry Production BHT309

There are 8 lessons:

1  Introduction

• Review of the system of plant identification
• Plant Families, Species, Cultivars, Varieties
• What is a Berry -Botanical Characteristics (Simple fruits, Compound Fruits)
• Information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs etc.)

2  Which Varieties to Grow

• Site Selection,
• How much land
• Site Chjaracteristics
• Climate
• Winter Chilling Requirements
• Biological Considerations
• Further Considerations affecting what to Grow
• Review of Significant Berries including
• Blackcurrant
• Blueberry
• Brambleberry
• Blackberry
• Other Rubus species
• Cranberry
• Gooseberry
• Grape
• KiwiFruit
• Passionfruit
• Raspberry
• Strawberry

3  Lesser Grown Varieties of Berry Plants

• Alpine Strawberry
• Cape Gooseberry
• Elderberry
• Goji berry
• Guava
• Hardy Kiwi Fruit
• Lignoberry
• Pepino
• Tree Tomato
• Mulberry
• Production Plan for Berry Cropping

4  Culture

• Soils
• Planting
• Staking
• Mulching
• Watering
• Pest & disease
• Feeding
• Pruning
• Protection from wind, salt, air, etc.

5  Propagation

• Methods of propagating berries
• Seed, Cuttings, Layering
• Aids to Propagation
• Hardening off Young Plants
• Propagation of selected varieties

6  Weed Control & Irrigation

• What is a Weed
• How Weeds Spread
• Preventative methods of Control
• Eliminating growing weeds
• Identifying Weeds
• Water Infiltration and Retention
• Drainage
• Improving water Infiltration
• Soil Moisture Classes
• Measuring Water Available to Plants
• When to Irrigate
• Irrigating Berry Crops

7  Harvesting & Marketing Berries

• When and How to Harvest
• Understanding Fruit Ripening
• Harvesting Techniques
• Post Harvest Treatments

8  Commercial Berry Growing

• Marketing Berries
• The Marketing Process
• Understanding Supply and Demand
• Cost, Quality and Quantity characteristics in a Crop
• Farm Layout for Better Management
• Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Learning Goals:   Berry Production BHT309

• Differentiate between different types of berry fruit cultivars
• Determine varieties of berry fruit suitable for growing in a specified locality (Part A)
• Determine varieties of berry fruit suitable for growing in a specified locality (Part B)
• Explain the cultural treatment for a range of berry fruits, in specified situations (Part A)
• Determine how to propagate a range of different berry plants
• To explain the cultural treatment for a range of berry fruits, in specified situations (Part B)
• Explain the harvesting of different berry crops
• Develop strategies for commercial success in a berry fruit enterprise

Practicals: Berry Production BHT309

This Hydroponic course would be suitable for:

• Hydroponic Shop Managers and Staff,
• Hydroponic Equipment and Materials Manufacturers and Suppliers
• Other working alongside a hydroponic power supply

If you plan on studying this course, ensure that you do not study more than 1 of Hydroponic I and Home Hydroponics. The difference is that Home Hydroponics is a less intensive academic load and geared for more personal use, while Hydroponics I is a broad based course.

• Distinguish between common and botanical definitions for the term berry.
• Compare the botanical characteristics of berry fruits from four different taxonomic families.
• Prepare a collection of twenty-five plant reviews of different berry varieties,including the following details on each plant:
  • Plant names (Common and scientific)
  • A photo, illustration or pressed specimen
  • Cultural details
  • Harvest and post harvest
  • Uses (eg. valuable products).
• Develop criteria for the selection of suitable berry fruit varieties.
• Evaluate the performance of four different berry varieties.
• Determine appropriate varieties of different berries to grow in a specified locality, considering a range of types, including:
  • Strawberries
  • Brambles
  • Other berries.
• Describe an appropriate planting method for each of three specified genera of berry fruits.
• Illustrate an appropriate pruning methods for each of four different genera of berry fruits, using sequences of drawings, photographs, or video.
• Determine appropriate irrigation practices for two different, specified berry plantings.
• Develop feeding programs for a twelve month period, for three different berry crops suited to growing in a particular locality.
• Conduct simple soil tests to determine soil characteristics relevant to a proposed berry planting. Soil tests should include:
  • Soil type
  • Water holding capacity
  • pH
  • Drainage
• Recommend appropriate soil preparation for the tested soil, prior to planting a specified berry crop.
• Compare four different weed control practices appropriate for specified berry crops.
• Develop soil maintenance programs for a twelve month period, on a monthly basis, for different berry crops.
• Identify different health disorders (e.g. pests and diseases) on berry plants.
• Develop a pest and disease control program for a twelve month period, for a specified berry crop.
• Describe different methods for propagating specified berry plants, including:
  • Cuttings
  • Runners
  • Division
  • Layering
• Demonstrate cutting propagation of two different berry species.
• Produce marketable berry plants representing different genera, either as bare rooted or container plants.
• Compare the commercial viability of propagating one specified berry by two alternative propagation techniques.
• Explain how to determine when different types of berries are ready for harvest.
• Describe different methods for harvesting five different types of berries, including:
  • Manual
  • Mechanical
• Explain the harvesting of five types of berries before they are ripe, and ripening of the berries off the plant.
• Determine appropriate post-harvest treatments for a specified commercial berry crop.
• Develop a resource file of different items of information relevant to the berry fruit industry, including:
  • Suppliers of berry plants
  • Trade or grower associations
  • Publications
• Determine criteria which are significant in the commercial success of a specific berry farm, which you either visit in real life or investigate on the internet.
• Explain how a range of five different berries are prepared for the market.
• Prepare a chart of ten different berry species that lists their shelf life.
• Evaluate the commercial viability of three different methods of packaging and presenting berries for sale.
• Compare common marketing strategies for berry fruits, including:
  • Selling at wholesale markets
  • Selling on contract to chain stores
  • Selling to processors
  • Roadside stalls
  • U-pick selling

Your tutor for this course is:

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. 

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General

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Excerpt From The Course

Most berries are normally propagated by vegetative means. While it is possible to grow berry plants from seed, vegetative propagation ensures that the parent plant’s valuable qualities (such as fruit flavour or frost hardiness) are retained in the new plant stock.

SEXUAL AND ASEXUAL PROPAGATION

Sexual Propagation

Sexual propagation involves growing a plant from a seed or spore which has been produced by fertilization of the female part of one plant by the male part (usually of another plant). Plants grown this way can have some characteristics of one parent – and different characteristics from the other parent. A sexually propagated plant is not always exactly the same as the plant from which the seed or spores was taken.

Most flowering annuals, vegetables, biennials and perennials are grown this way. Ferns and some trees and shrubs are also grown sexually. Berry fruit sometimes grown sexually include the alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca). The blue berry can also be propagated this way but remember that the off-spring may not be true to type or be of high quality.

Asexual Propagation (Vegetative Propagation)

Propagation involves reproducing a new plant from only one parent.  A part of an existing plant is treated in some way so that it can produce a new plant ie. asexual propagation involves growing a new plant from a piece of stem, leaf or root (or possibly all three).

Seed (Sexual) Propagation

Propagating plants from seeds is called sexual propagation.

Seeds however can be variable; in other words they may not always be a replica of the parent plant. The growth habit and colour may vary between plants grown from the same batch of seeds. This is brought about by a random combination of genetic material from the parents. The genetic make-up of each seed is unique. Plant breeders cross-pollinate plants that are genetically different deliberately in order to find interesting features this produces new varieties or cultivars.

In order for seeds to germinate they require:

1. Water and oxygen.

2. An appropriate temperature.

3. Sometimes light (depending on the species).

4. Viable seed.

Given the above, a seed will germinate readily and embryo will develop and the plant will grow. If a seed is not given these requirements or when one is lacking or insufficient the seed will not germinate.