Introduction to Horticulture Horticulture Word first used in

Introduction to Horticulture

Horticulture Word first used in 1600’s Comes from two Latin words Hortus “Garden” Cultura “Cultivation” Horticulture means “cultivated garden” or “culture of garden plants” NOW MUCH MORE…

Life Sciences n Biology is the branch of science that deals with both plant and animal organisms and life processes. n Zoology is the part of biology that deals with animals. n Botany is the part of biology that deals with plants.

Horticulture n The science and practice of growing, processing and marketing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

Agronomy n The science and practice of growing field crops such as cotton, wheat, tobacco, corn and soybeans.

Branches of Horticulture n Olericulture n The growing and study of vegetables. n Pomology n The growing and study of fruits and nuts. n Viticulture n The growing and study of grapes or vines. n Floriculture n The growing and study of flowers.

Other Branches of Horticulture n Greenhouse Management n The growing and study of plants in greenhouses. n Turfgrass Management n The growing and study of turfgrasses. This includes home, municipal, and commercial lawns; sports turf maintenance; highway rights-of-way; and seed and sod production.

More Branches of Horticulture n Nursery Management n The growing and study of trees and shrubs that are produced primarily for landscape purposes. n Arboriculture n The growing and study of trees. n Known as silviculture in forestry. n Synonymous with urban forestry.

More Branches of Horticulture n Landscape Horticulture n The application of design and horticultural principles to placement and care of plants in the landscape. n Interiorscaping n The application of design and horticultural principles to placement and care of plants in indoor environments.

History of Horticulture “Garden of Eden” Romanticized garden of paradise. Ultimate goal throughout history.

History of Horticulture Prehistoric people were primarily…. Hunters and gatherers. Collected seeds, fruits, and nuts.

History of Horticulture n Primitive people began to study plants. n Is it edible? n Does eating it modify well-being? n Does it taste good? n Can it used to keep me warm? As fuel? As clothing? n Is it useful to combat pain? Disease?

History of Horticulture When were plants first cultivated? Neolithic Age (7000 – 10000 years ago) First farmers were women!!!!

History of Horticulture n By 3000 B. C. in Egypt n Land preparation n Irrigation n Pruning

History of Horticulture Meanwhile in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, and Assyria…. . Irrigation canals lined with burnt brick and sealed with asphalt joints. This system kept 10, 000 square miles under cultivation…. . Which fed 15, 000 people Cultivated roses, figs, dates, grapes, and olives.

History of Horticulture n Hanging Gardens of Babylon n Built by Nebuchadnezzar. n One of 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

History of Horticulture Eventually people began asking questions such as…. . How do they grow? How do they reproduce? How are they constructed? How are they nourished? How are they related to one another? How are traits passed from one generation to the next?

History of Horticulture Meanwhile, back in America…… The Pre-Incas were cultivating maize (corn)

What other crops were Native American’s growing?

History of Horticulture Other Indian crops included…… Potatoes Sweet potatoes Peppers Squash Tomatoes Cocoa

History of Horticulture n The use of plant products eventually led to physicians, pharmacists, and scientists.

History of Horticulture n Theophrastus n 1 st scientific horticulturist n Student of Plato and Aristotle n Wrote the books History of Plants and The Causes of Plants.

History of Horticulture n History of Plants n Morphology of roots, flowers, and leaves. n Anatomical features such as bark, pith, fibers, and vessels. n The Causes of Plants n Relationship of weather, soils, and agricultural practi n Importance of seeds n Value of grafting n Tastes and flagrances of plants n Death of plants

History of Horticulture n Dioscorides n Early Christian Era n Wrote about the medicinal uses of plants n Proposed ideas about the relationship of plants

History of Horticulture n Middle Ages n Little advancement in horticulture n Arabs (established botanical gardens) n Scientific advances of Greeks and Romans were preserved in monasteries.

History of Horticulture n Renaissance n Rebirth of energetic attention to scientific discovery. n Taxonomy, morphology, and anatomy branches of botany began to grow. n More and more plants were discovered due to exploration which required a system of classification.

History of Horticulture n Linnaeus (1707 -1778) n Swedish botanist. n Developed binomial classification scheme for plants. n Based on their sexual or flowering parts. n Basis for all classification systems today. n Built upon the work of the Greeks, especially Dioscorides.

History of Horticulture As the Renaissance evolved…… Creation of formal Gardens Versailles Belvedere in Vienna

History of Horticulture Improvements in fruit, nut, and vegetable production. Influx of new plants from “the colonies”. Some of these plants became mainstays of European diets.

Horticulture in America n When the Europeans arrived they brought seeds, cuttings, and plants. n Orchards were established n Crops brought to America n Oranges n Wheat n Cabbage

Horticulture in America n Early horticulturists in America n John Bartram n George Washington n Thomas Jefferson n John Chapman naka. Johnny Appleseed

Modern Day Horticulture n New Cultivars n The Rhizosphere n Integrated Pest Management n Plant-Water Relationships n Temperature n Plant Growth Regulators n Light n Mechanization n Plant Nutrition n Post Harvest Factors