Horticulture
Horticulture is, at the most basic level, the science or art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants.
- Flowers and ornamental plants enrich our homes and communities, and contribute to our sense of well-being.
- Production and consumption of high quality fruits and vegetables allows us to maintain a healthy, balanced daily diet.
Horticulture impacts our lives on a daily basis by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables, offering visual enjoyment, and promoting recreational activities.
A Horticulturist's work involves plant propagation and cultivation with the aim of improving plant growth.
They work as gardeners, growers, therapists, designers, and technical advisors in the food and non-food sectors of horticulture.
KS3 Overview
Key Stage 3
These are some of the topics covered at KS3:
- Tools and Safety
- Plants and the Seasons
- Sowing seed/Germination
- Harvesting
- Perennial and annual flowers
- Weeds
- Making Leaf Mould and Compost
- Birds and Pollinators
- Pruning
Careers in Horticulture
CAFRE College in Greenmount (Antrim) offer courses in Horticulture.
After you receive a qualification the number of career paths open to you are too numerous to list in full. But here is a selection:
- Working with the public at a botanical garden
- Teaching the subject (courses at a college)
- Running a business in which plants or produce are sold
- Designing arrangements at a florist shop
- Keeping the grass green and lush at a golf course
- Working as a lawn care technician
- Maintaining the landscape for a park
- Working as a plant developer
- Conducting research into plants for a college, for the government, or for a business