Course CodeAHT102Fee CodeS1Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Why Grow Vegetables? Increase the biodiversity of your garden – the veggie patch will be a haven for bees, birds, lizards and other animals in need of food, water and shelter. Improve health by consuming fresh vegetables Less food waste Growing your own vegetable is sustainable ACS student comment: Great course, tutor was really good with explaining and marking. [She] gave me new ideas for my garden and hints for it too. Learning so many new things about growing different vegetables, how to grow them and what to do. All about soils and garden plots. Kathryn Crossfield, Australia - Home Vegetable Growing Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: Introduction Ways of growing vegetables Understanding plant names Resource guide Cultivation and Planting Different growing methods (organic gardening, hydroponics, permaculture etc) Vertical gardening and its types Planting methods (seeds, transplanting or offsets, crowns tubers etc) Understanding soil and nutrition Soil pH Composting Review of Major Vegetable Varieties Conditions favourable for planting Cultivation practices of commonly grown vegetables Brassicas (Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Radish, turnip etc) Legumes (Beans, Pea etc) Lettuce Onion Potatoes Pest, Disease & Weed Control Natural control methods Cultural control method (mulching, crop rotation, resistant varieties etc) Physical control methods (traps, repellent devices etc) Hydroponic and Greenhouse Growing Growing vegetables in greenhouses Type of greenhouse Greenhouse problems Hydroponics Type of hydroponic growing systems Nutrient solutions and pH Cultivation of tomato Lesser Grown Varieties and Herbs Crop scheduling Cultivation of less commonly grown varieties Amaranth Artichoke Asparagus Cassava Chicory Common Mint Dandelion Endive Fennel Garlic Ginger Horseradish Okra Rhubarb Yams Sweet potato Taro and many more Irrigation The do’s and don’ts of watering Ways to reduce water needs Different watering systems Designing water system Micro-irrigation Cultivation of other vegetables Harvesting, Storing & Using Vegetables Harvesting of different vegetables Storing vegetables Preserving and processing Bottling Pickles Sauces Freezing Blanching Methods of freezing different vegetables Aims Identify a range of different vegetables Determine sources and significance for information on vegetable growing Describe the planting and cultivation of a range of different vegetables. Describe production of some of the varieties of vegetable which are widely and commonly grown by home gardeners. Evaluate and determine treatments for a range of common pest, disease and weed problems that affect vegetables Determine and describe methods for producing a range of vegetable crops out of season. Describe production of some of the varieties of vegetable which are less commonly grown by home gardeners. Determine and describe ways of managing the water needs of vegetables in a home garden. Describe when and how to harvest different types of vegetable crops. Describe a range of methods for storing and using vegetables after harvest. Growing Vegetables for Pleasure Using herbs and veggies for better visual impact is simply a matter of plant selection and arrangement. In the past, when almost every house was on a quarter-acre block, vegetables were grown in separate beds in the backyard, with each variety planted in neatly spaced rows. These days few householders have the space or time to devote to this style of gardening, so it makes sense to grow edible plants alongside ornamental varieties. There are endless possibilities of combinations – a task made easier each season’s release of exciting new compact and colourful varieties. Vegetables and herbs can also be used to improve the backyard environment. Planting green manures and using organic mulches and composts will improve soil fertility and help to control erosion. Problem soils, such as excessively wet or dry soils, can also be improved by choosing varieties adapted to those conditions. Can You Be Self-Sufficient on an Average Home Site? It’s possible to provide for many of your needs, but you may need to modify your expectations. In a small but important way, growing vegetables will increase the biodiversity of your garden – the veggie patch will be a haven for bees, birds, lizards and other animals in need of food, water and shelter. If you want every luxury that modern society can offer, then you are going to need more than what your garden can give you, but if you are prepared to be only part self sufficient or to live with less, then go for it. What you produce from your garden will depend on the amount of space that you have. Obviously the larger the property, the more potential you will have to produce a large variety of crops. Large properties can support a range of fruit trees, vines, vegetables, herbs, grains and even hay and straw, as well as animals and chickens. The smaller the property, the more thought you will need to give to what you do and don’t grow. Ask yourself what would I like to produce? Then take it from there. What can you make using produce from your garden? Turning the produce into preserves and other usable items can be as much fun as the actual growing. For those who are looking to be self sufficient this is an extension of growing your own food, and a necessity to help you through winter and early spring, when fresh produce can start to dwindle. Following is a short list of what you could consider making: Preserves Chutney Dried foods Oil Soap Cloth Fertiliser/compost Mulch Seed (for next year’s planting) Fruit juices Wine There are Lots of Options There are many different ways you can grow vegetables; and an almost endless range of varieties to choose from. The method you choose and the varieties you grow should depend upon the time, space, level of knowledge and other resources available to you. Eat what is in season! Don’t Expect a Perfect Result all the Time ...Maybe not perfect, but with the right technique, results can be much better. Vegetable Growing deals with living things and as such is somewhat unpredictable and variable. The way you treat a plant is different from place to place, time to time and according to what you are trying to get from the plant. Some failures are inevitable, but you will learn from failures as well as successes, and over time with guidance from an expert tutor, and experimentation. Even commercial growers have some failures; but on balance; the successes make it all very worth while. You can learn not only how to grow better at home; but also, what to grow, to minimize the frequency of failures. Home Gardeners Can Benefit From This Course Be self-sufficient Grow for yourself and others Pick fresh 'clean' vegetables from your garden HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE