rhs level 2 certificate in horticulture

(normal price: £295)

At the end of the course you will be awarded a Learning Curve Certificate of Course Completion. You will also be ready to sit the RHS Certificate in Horticulture, which you can do at an authorised examination centre in your area. (There is an additional fee for the examination and registration with the RHS.) Your tutor will provide personal support and advice to help you complete your assignments and prepare effectively for the exam. Students have up to three years to complete this course, allowing them to work through the modules at their own pace. On average, however, it takes students around 12 - 18 months to complete the course, based on 3 - 5 hours study time per week.

Study topics covered include: introduction to horticulture; plant families: identification and nomenclature; the biology of plants; managing the growing environment; propagation; pollination, fertilization, germination. plant physiology; genetics and plant breeding; soils and growing media; pests and diseases: plant propagation; ecology in the garden; assessing plant needs; siting plants; legislation and regulations. Includes two course book, Principles of Horticulture and The Gardener's Year, all course material and full tutorial support.

Our tutorial support is second-to-none! You'll be assigned a personal tutor as soon as you enrol who will work with you all the way through. You can contact your tutor directly at any time if you have any questions or problems, or if you would just like a chat about how the course is going. Tutorial support is by e-mail and/or telephone.

Course books: Principles of Horticulture, Adams and Early; Gardeners' Year, Alan Titchmarsh.

Part 1: Planning Principles and Production

Module 1 - An Introduction to Horticulture: Origins and history; careers in horticulture; why are plants so important? Plant taxonomy and classification.

Module 2 - Plant Structure and Form: An introduction to plant biology; plant cells and tissues; how plant cells function; cell differentiation; structure and form of leaves, roots, stems, and flowers.

Module 3 - How Plants Function: Fertilisation; pollination, dormancy and germination; photosynthesis; plant growth and development, and its importance in horticulture; use of growth regulators; defining growth patterns

Module 4 - Plant Propagation: Seed propagation compared to vegetative methods; supporting successful germination; layering, cuttings, division, budding and grafting.

Module 5 - Outdoor Food Production 1: Cultural operations; producing food crops in a garden situation; vegetable crops; growing soft and top fruit successfully; soil cultivation; growing under cover.

Module 6 - Garden Planning: Basic survey techniques; site assessment; key aspects of garden design; use of hard and soft landscaping materials.

Part 2: Ornamental Principles and Maintenence.

Module 7 - Soil Management: Key principles; soil types and their importance for plant growth; drainage; plant nutrient; organic matter and soil organisms; effective digging methods. Resource-efficient horticulture.

Module 8 - Protected Cultivation: Planning the growing environment; controlling the protected environment; greenhouse design; frames, cloches, and polythene tunnels; indoor growing.

Module 9 - Selecting and Using Plants: Selecting plants (trees, plants and crops) to suit location; consideration of scale, position, facilities and features; planting density; choice of site, layout and design; considering function; associations between plants and other features; planning and maintenance of turf.

Module 10 - Weeds, Pest and Diseases 1: Ephemeral, annual and perennial weeds; problems caused by weeds; damage caused by pests, diseases and disorders - identification, symptoms, mode of attack, including examples from horticulture.

Module 11 - Weeds, Pests and Diseases 2: Fungal and viral disease; chemical, cultural, biological and physical methods of control; named examples.

Module 12 - Legislation and Regulations in Horticulture: An exploration of legislation; regulations and codes of practice relevant to horticulture, including practical examples.

You can spread the cost of your course over 4 months by choosing our instalment option. There is a £20 administration fee if you choose this option.

Normal price: £315: Deposit - £60; Four instalments - £63.75 each. If booking on-line, winter offer: £270.75; deposit - £55; four instalments - £53.94. (This includes an administration fee of £20.) You will only be charged the deposit when you enrol.

If you wish to pay by instalments please contact us on: 01896 860661.

Learning Curve is one of the UK's leading distance learning providers. All of our home study courses include study material, which is sent out in an attractive, hardwearing folder, essential course books and full tutorial support. We are accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council, members of the Association of British Correspondence Colleges and the British Learning Association, and registered as providers with the Learning Skills Council. For more about Learning Curve click here.