New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General)

In less than two days a week, we can upskill your team.
This programme is eligible for fees-free under the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF). Find full details about the fund here.(external link)

Our tailor-made courses enable businesses to regularly upskill their team knowledge without compromising the daily activities associated with running a business through our on-site course delivery option. 

Have us run one of our courses on your premises or bring your team along to our Richmond campus. Please note a minimum of 10 students is required for on-site course delivery.

If you’re wanting to upskill your team we'd love to hear from you. Complete this form and we'll come back to you.

Below is the standard delivery of our courses for the 
New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General), Level 3 
at the Richmond campus.

Tuesday

9.15 am - 12.30 pm

  • Classroom-led learning

1.00 - 2.45 pm

  • Online learning in the computer room
  • Students who are in full-time Nursery work could do online work at home
Growing environments               
  • Soils and how to identify them, assessment of their fitness for growing and understanding how to modify
  • Includes soil types, structure and texture, nutrients, soil biology, pH levels and how soils hold their fertility and water
Plant science
  • The mechanics of a plant, function and structure, which includes photosynthesis, respiration, stems roots, leaves and flowers. 
  • This relates to understanding how plants grow and what they need
  • Plant ID and plant families are also covered including weeds
Plant health
  • Identifying pests, diseases and disorders, and recognising when a plant is healthy or unhealthy
  • Understanding how to manage plant health including IPM and Agrichemical use

Wednesday

9.15 am - 2.45 pm

  • These practical classes are held in our nursery, market garden, or in the field. Additional questions can be answered in a twice-weekly Zoom meeting
Propagation and cultivation       
  • Practical growing in the nursery, growing from seed, cuttings and division
  • Cultivation in our on-site market garden
Growing systems
  • Taking crops grown to harvest, and getting a taste of a variety of growing systems and skills
  • Topics covered include health and safety, tool and small motor maintenance, amenity garden skills, pruning and training, weeding and weed ID, agrichemicals, planting trees, orchard management, market garden management.  
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