INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE Horticulture A branch of agriculture

INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURE Horticulture – A branch of agriculture that deals with certain aspects of utilization of fruits, flowers and vegetables. Horticulture involves intensive cultural practices where plants or species are usually given individual attention

Terms and definitions • Derived from the Latin words ‘hortus colere’ which means garden culture. • Deals with production and processing of fruits, vegetables, ornamentals plants, spices, herbs and flowers. • Deals with propagation, cultivation and marketing of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and flowers.

Branches of Horticulture • Pomology – science and practice of growing, harvesting, handling, storing, processing and marketing of tree fruits. • Olericulture – growing, harvesting, storing, processing and marketing vegetables.

Branches of Horticulture • • • Ornamental gardening and landscaping Seed Production technology Silviculture Food and vegetable preservation Sericulture Forestry

Plant Growing Structures • Structures in a garden or nursery that are used to modify environmental conditions Types of structures Cold Frames Hot beds/ house Pit green house Traditional green houses Shade house Out door seed beds

Cold Frames Refer to as ‘poor mans’ greenhouse’ • Least expensive plant growing structure • Solar heating; cost nothing to operate • Heat by the green house effect phenomenon • Heat pass through transparent surfaces falls on plant leaves and other surfaces and changes into infrared (heat) energy • Heat then radiates back into air and held by the covering.

Uses of Cold Frames • Limited usability but practical • Can be used to harden off greenhouse grown transplant – reduce shock • Can be used for raising transplant of cool season vegetables • Hardwood cuttings can be rooted and over wintered. • Excellent for cooling bulbs to be forced into bloom in winter.

Cold Frames

Hot house • Structurally and operationally the same as cold frame. • May have chemical or electrical heat in addition to the sun • Superior to cold frames for growing warm season plants

Hot house

Pit Green House • Includes features of both a cold frame and a regular green house. • Needs to be covered at nights with insulation like a cold frame. • The lower portion is constructed in a pit 90 – 120 cm deep. • Glazed portion above ground should up to 120 cm.

Pit green house • Unique feature – the use of heating and cooling properties of the earth • Suitable for cold winter or hot summer areas • Require little or no supplementary heat or cooling. • Moderate construction cost

Traditional Greenhouse • Almost complete environmental control • Thermostatically controlled heat source to keep the house cool, moderate or warm. • Venting, cooling, watering, shading and fertilizing can be automated. • Common for commercial use. • Most expensive to operate.

Traditional Greenhouse

Shade House • Provide area of filtered light/shade for plant. • Can be used for hardening transplants • Usually constructed with a wooden frame and covered with saran. • Covering usually extend to include the sides of structure. • Usually oriented in north south – ward off excessive sunlight.

Shade House • Operationally less expensive to operate • With exception to water supply- little or no automation • Light mainly natural – few cases there is artificial lighting.

Shade House

Outdoor seed beds • Seed beds or propagation beds provide the environment for rooting hardwood cuttings. • May or may not be covered with shade cloth to provide a congenial micro climate. • Less expensive to construct • Re-useable.

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