Manage a Horticultural Enterprise
This is a unique course offering a qualification in garden centre, nursery or
farm shop management.
Use this 1,000-hour course to develop your business and career
opportunities for selling horticultural produce directly to the public.
There are ten modules cover both horticultural and business related studies.
The course is designed for managers or operators of nurseries, orchardists, market gardeners, vineyard managers, etc. who are establishing or running a shop or other type of retail outlet selling produce to the public.
Modules
Note that each module in the Qualification - Foundation Diploma in Nursery, Farm Shop and Garden Centre Management is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Choosing What Plants to Stock in a Nursery or Garden Shop
Retail nurseries may cater to either a local or regional market. Small nurseries generally cater to a local area. When the local area is new and there is a lot of building activity, these nurseries will normal sell large numbers trees and shrubs which grow fast and tall. There will normally be a demand for all types of plants, so the nursery should stock a wide variety of plants. The exception to this is where the housing in the area is based on a particular theme, or local government planning controls restrict development with the object of maintaining indigenous plants. In some countries or localities a certain style of garden might be more popular, so plants needed for that type of garden will be in greater demand. In built up areas with smaller properties or flats and units, smaller plants will probably be more in demand. Indoor plants, hanging baskets and container plants will probably be in greater demand in densely populated areas than in rural areas.
Once an area becomes built up and established, the local nursery will find more sales in plants needed to maintain or renovate an established garden. Smaller ornamental and flowering plants, ground covers and annual seedlings can become a more important then. Anyone establishing or taking over a local retail nursery will find it useful to visit similar sized nurseries in similar localities to see what mix of plant varieties are being stocked in those businesses.
Larger retail nurseries can cater to a regional market, attracting people from a wider field. If located in a prominent position (eg. a main road) or promoted in an appropriate way, this type of nursery can draw all types of customers wanting nearly any type of plant. Specialist sections can be incorporated into the nursery, and those sections promoted to a specific market (eg. an orchid section selling and displaying a wide range of orchids might be promoted widely among orchid enthusiasts to attract these people to the nursery).
How The Course Works
You can start the course at any time.
It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies. Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.
To complete the course -
- There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So if there are ten lessons in a course, there will be ten assignments.
- At the end of each module, there is also an examination which you can take at a time and location to suit you.
- To pass the course you are required to pass all assignments and exams.
- Each of the modules mentioned can also be studied as a standalone course if you prefer.
