Core Modules: These modules provide foundation knowledge for the Advanced Diploma in Applied Management – Wholesale Nursery.

1 Operational Business Management I (Horticulture)

Learn to develop the knowledge necessary to plan for Economic and Marketing Success in a Horticultural Enterprise. A study focusing on managing Economics, Planning and Marketing of operations in horticulture. Your ability to manage a business can make a huge difference to your success in horticulture. In this course, you will learn to the business side of horticulture, including how to plan and implement effective strategies for your business and/or services. This is a module in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture. More….

2  Horticultural Resource Management BHT203

Understand and manage a horticultural business or enterprise. Help your business thrive with this home study resource management course! Resource management for successful horticulture businesses. Planning for efficient and economical management in horticulture includes such things as work procedures and programming, budgeting and staff supervision. The course is relevant to all areas of horticulture including nurseries, parks, private gardens, market gardening and fruit production. More….

3  Wholesale Nursery Management BHT212 

Learn to produce great plants in a commercially successful way. Managing a production nursery involves more than just propagating and potting up plants. Even the small nursery must be able to not only produce plants, but do it at a predetermined cost, then sustain those plants before and during marketing. The nursery industry currently has a real need for people with skills and knowledge in managing production in plant nurseries! This course provides a solid grounding for developing those skills. More….

4  Horticultural Marketing

Understand marketing in the horticultural industry. In any business, including horticulture, success depends upon good marketing of your product. This subject covers the theoretical and practical importance of marketing in the horticultural industry, including topics such as advertising, promotions, signs, customer relations, pricing strategy, labeling, transport, product presentation, plus other aspects of horticultural marketing. More….

Stream Modules: Studied after the core modules, stream modules cover more specific or niche subjects.

1  Propagation I BHT108

This is a foundation course in the Propagation plants. In this module you’ll learn how to propagate plants and develop broad skills in this subject.Plants are propagated both sexually (from two parents eg. seed & spore) and asexually (from two parents eg. cuttings, grafting, layers, division). This course deals with the principles of propagation, and all of these methods; as well as materials and equipment. This is a module designed and written with the the accredited RHS Diploma in mind. More….

2  Research Project I BGN102

Study Research online and learn to plan and conduct research for any industry or discipline. Discover ways that research skills can improve performance and sustainability of any business. 100 hour self paced course, expert tutors. More….

Elective Modules: In addition to the core modules, choose two modules from the following twelve:

1  Commercial Vegetable Production BHT222

Learn about growing crops of vegetables in a productive way with these steps. Learning the importance of soils, cultural practices and pest and disease management is a great way to get optimum crop production. More….

2  Conflict Management BPS201

Learn strategies to manage conflict effectively. Age conflict can destroy relationships and lead to increased stress, or it can improve our relationships and give us a greater sense of control over ourselves and our environments. Explore the causes and effects of conflict. Learn how to manage it through effective communication, active listening, and problem solving. Develop your ability to use facilitation, negotiation or mediation in group situations to achieve win-win solutions. More….

3  Cutting Propagation BHT211   

Become an expert at cut flower growing. Cut flower growing has experienced rapid expansion in recent decades, resulting in increased demand for training in the skills and knowledge required by this industry in increasingly affluent countries. This course provides a thorough basic training for the commercial cut flower grower. More….

4  Cut Flowers Production BHT221

Learn the skills necessary to become a commercial cut flower grower. Cut flower growing has experienced rapid expansion in recent decades, resulting in increased demand for training in the skills and knowledge required by this industry in increasingly affluent countries. This course provides a thorough basic training for the commercial cut flower grower. More….

5  Herb Culture BHT114

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. More….

6  Industry Project BIP000

There are two options available to you to satisfy this requirement: If you work in the industry that you have been studying; you may submit a reference from your employer, in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning), achieved through your current and past work experience. The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility. More….

7 Motivation VBS111

Learn to understand what motivates and drives people in any area of life. A motivated person works better, lives a more satisfied lfe and are generally healthier and happier. The same applies to a Motivated employees who drive the success of a business. Learn how to get the best of employees by understanding more about this fascinating subject. More….

8  Nursery Hands Assistant VHT102 – for training staff

Learn the duties of a Nursery hand, in order to train new staff and to monitor existing staff performance. This course will help you to train them in Plant Identification and Taxonomy, potting mixes, seed and cutting propagation, plant nutitition, pests and disease control, plus other nursery tasks. More….

9  Nursery Sales Assistant VHT103 – for training staff

Learn the duties of a Nursery sales assistant, in order to train new staff and to monitor existing staff performance. This course will help you to train them in Plant Identification, sales skills, caring for plants, selecting the right plant for the right place, plus advising customers in the nursery. More….

10 Orchid Culture BHT232

Whether you are an enthusiastic amateur, or working professionally in horticulture looking to increase your areas of expertise, this course will help give you a solid foundation in order to become an orchid expert. You will learn to differentiate between different orchid types, understand the differing cultural requirements for various orchids,  grow orchids outside, in a greenhouse or as an indoor plant, choose the best orchid for a given situation and work with orchids. More….

11 Perenniels BHT316

Perennials are a diverse group of plants providing the gardener with a wide range of plant material suited to an equally wide range of climate and soil conditions. Whilst trees and shrubs provide the backbone of the garden, perennials, with such diversity of structure, flowers and leaf shapes, fill in the spaces to provide (if chosen carefully) year round colour and interest. More….

12 Scented Plants BHT229

A thorough approach to growing and using scented plants Learn to identify, grow (propagation and culture), and use different types of scented plants. You will find out how to harvest and dry scented plants, and through practical assignments actually make a whole range of exciting herb crafts (e.g. pot pourri, soaps, candles). Learn also how to landscape a scented garden and expand your knowledge of dozens of different scented plant species. More….

Click on the links to see what each module will teach you.

Note 1: Each module is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

Note 2: A Higher Advanced Diploma is possible in this course, by completing the additional modules below. These can be added at the start of your course, or you can enrol for them after completing the Advanced Diploma to upgrade your qualification. Please add: £1,224.00 to the course fee: 

1. Industry Project BIP000
2. Nursery Hands Assistant VHT102
3. Nursery Sales Assistant VHT103
4. Motivation VBS111 or Conflict Management BPS201

• Describe how site characteristics influence the establishment and management of wholesale nurseries.
• Explain management structures and work scheduling in wholesale nurseries.
• Describe the management of pests and diseases and plant nutrition in production nurseries.
• Explain the physical and chemical properties of growing media used in production nurseries.
• Describe the techniques and equipment used to irrigate plants in nurseries.
• Explain techniques used to modify and influence the growth of plants in production nurseries
• Describe strategies used by production nurseries to increase sales.
• Explain criteria for selecting plants and developing a nursery stock list.

Understanding Terminology used by Nurserymen

Bare Rooted  – These are plants that have been ‘lifted’ from their growing area without the soil or growing media left around their roots. This is common for many deciduous ornamental trees (eg: elms, ashes, maples) and fruit trees (eg: apricot, apple, peach, pear), and shrubs such as roses. The plants should be planted as soon as possible to prevent the roots drying out. They can be temporarily stored if the roots are covered with a moist material such as peat moss, straw, or rotted  Sawdust.

Bedding Plants  -These are plants used for temporary displays, generally planted out in warmer seasons (eg: many annuals).

Bottom Heat –  This is where heat is applied at, or near, the base of plants to stimulate growth.This can be done in a variety of ways, including under bench heating with heat cables or hot water pipes, heating of floors in greenhouses using heat cables, or composting materials such as sawdust or manures. (See also Hotbed).

Coldframe-This is in effect a mini-greenhouse. Generally unheated, they are commonly used to provide protection for plants being propagated, or for plants that may need a short period of protection against extremes of climate. They have the advantage of being readily movable, and easy to construct.

Dibble Stick  – This is a short pencil-like stick that is used to make holes in growing media for the potting-up (‘pricking out’) of seedlings, or for inserting or potting-up cuttings.

Flats   – These are shallow trays with drainage holes in the bottom, which are commonly for germinating seeds, or rooting cuttings.

Forcing  – The use of heat and altered light conditions to induce very early flowering, or very tall growth. Commonly used in cut flower production.

Growing Media – Any material in which plants are being grown can be classified as a growing media. This includes soil, soilless potting mixes, rockwool, vermiculite, even water (ie: hydroponics).

Hotbed  – This is a bed used for plant propagation that provides heat to the base of seed trays or to pots of cuttings to stimulate germination in seedlings and subsequent root growth, and root initiation and growth in cuttings. Heat is normally supplied From either hot water pipes, or from resistance cables which, when an electric current is passed through them, heats up. These heating elements generally have some material such as propagating sand, vermiculite, gravel or perlite placed around them to help spread (diffuse) the heat.

Juvenility– A stage of a plants life following the germination of a seed to produce a seedling. Vegetative growth dominates, and juvenile plants can’t respond to flower-inducing stimuli. In some plants juvenile foliage differs markedly from adult foliage (eg: some Eucalypts). In difficult to root plants taking cutting material from stock plants in a juvenile phase will often give better results than using older (adult growth phase) material.

Living Colour  – Plants cultivated to provide colourful displays (ie: foliage, flowers, fruit). These can be either in ground or in containers, and be grown for either short or long term display.

Micropropagation  – This is the production (propagation) of plants from very small plant parts, tissues or cells. They are grown under aseptic conditions in a highly controlled environment. The term tissue culture is a collective term used to describe a number of in-vitro procedures used in culturing plant tissue, including producing haploid plant cells and artificial hybridisation.

Plugs  –  These are individual plants, or small clumps of plants, that are grown in trays containing large numbers of individual cells. For example, the tray may have 18 cells across by 32 cells along, making a total 576 cells per tray, with each individual cell having measuring 20 x 20mm and with a depth of 30mm. Each cell having an individual drainage hole. The trays are filled with a growing media and seed planted into each cell, either by hand (very slow) or by machine.
There are machines that are capable of planting individual seeds into each cell, and very quickly. The trays are made of plastic, that has some degree of flexibility so that it can be bent a little to allow easy removal of individual plugs (root ball and growing media combined). This type of growing system, is ideal for flower and vegetable seedlings, and can be highly mechanised (eg: filling trays with soil, seeding, potting up individual plugs).

Potted Colour  – Plants grown in containers to provide a colourful display. They are commonly used as an alternative to cut flowers (eg: Chyrsanthemums in 150mm pots), and are generally discarded once their peak display (eg: flowering) has finished.

Provenance –  This is also known as ‘seed origin’ and refers to where the seed has been produced. This can give an indication of the particular genetic characteristics of the seed (eg: size, shape, flower colour, adaptation to climatic conditions, resistance to pest & diseases, tolerance to different soil conditions).

Scarification  – This is any process that breaks, scratches, cuts, mechanically alters, or softens seed coats to make them more impermeable to water and gases. Techniques include dipping in hot water, dipping in concentrated sulphuric acid, removing hard seed coats with sand paper, and nicking seed coats with a sharp knife.

Standards –  These are where plants are grown a single tall stem (eg: some fruit trees and roses). Some prostrate cultivars are also budded or grafted onto taller stemmed rootstocks to create pendulous forms (eg: weeping elm, Grevillea gaudi-chaudi & Royal Mantle).

Stock Plants:  These are the parent plants from which cutting propagation material is obtained. There are three main scources of stock plant material. These are
i) plants growing in parks, around houses, in the wild, etc.
ii) prunings or trimmings from young nursery plants, and iii) plants grown specifically as a scource of cutting material. Stock plants should be correctly identified (and true to type), and in a healthy condition.

Stratification:  This is where dormant seeds, that have imbibed water, are subjected to a period of chilling to ‘after-ripen’ the embryo. This process is also known as moist-chilling. Dry seeds should be soaked in water prior to stratification.
Seeds are then usually mixed with some sort of moisture retaining material, such as coarse washed sand, or peat or sphagnum moss, or vermiculite. The material should be moistened prior to mixing. The mix is then stored at a temperature of 0 – 10 degrees C. The lower shelf of a domestic refrigerator is usually suitable. The time of stratification will depend on seed type, but usually 1 – 4 months. In areas with cool winters, stratification can be carried out in beds outdoors, but seeds should be protected from pests such as birds, or mice.

Tissue Culture  – this is the same as micropropagation

Tubes:   Small, narrow containers, commonly used for the first potting -up stage of newly propagated seed or cuttings. The tube-like nature encourages new roots to grow straight down, reducing the risk of roots coiling.  A common ‘tube’ used in
Australia has an upper diameter of 50mm, a depth of around 70mm, tapering down to a lower diameter of about 40mm. This type is most widely used in producing stock for planting up into larger containers. Deeper tubes are also commonly used for tubing-up quick growing seedlings that are to be used in large scale plantings (eg: reafforestation, farms, trees). Some nurseries specialise in just tubestock production for sale to other nurseries, for growing on.

Tubestock:  Plants grown in tube-like containers (see Tubes above).

Wounding:   Root production on cuttings can often be promoted by wounding the base of cuttings. A common method of wounding plants is to cut away a thin strip of bark, about 1.5 to 3cm long (this will depend on the size of the cutting) from each side of the cutting near the base. The strip should not be cut too deeply, just enough to expose the cambium layer (the soft layer of new growth between the wood and the bark), without cutting very deeply into the wood beneath.

After You Graduate

Throughout this course, you will have engaged and interacted  with people in the nursery industry, including tutors and others.
You will have begun to build your networking within the industry; and often our students will already be working in the nursery industry before they complete their studies. For some, you may have already become involved with the industry before you started studying.

On graduating; you will have more knowledge, skills and contacts than ever before. You will have opportunities to move forward in many different ways.

•  You may seek start up your own wholesale nursery.
•  You may find employment working in a large established production nursery -in public or commercial
•  Some will advance their prospects where they already work; others will move to work somewhere new
•  Some will continue with studies to an even higher level; and others will build on their studies through experience.
•  Some will use their added knowledge and experience in other ways, for example: working in consultancy,
  marketing education or media – providing services or products in support of the nursery industry.

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.