Exploring the Horticulture Field

General HorticultureAG-GH-PS-12

A Brief History began in 377-288 B.C. when Greek

horticulturalist Theophrastus speculated that the roots of plants absorb nutrients

In the 1700s, Swedish Botanist C.V. Linnaeus developed a system for naming plants (binomial nomenclature)

Beginning in 1843, Gregor Mendel started the basis for genetics with his pea plant experiments.

What is Horticulture?

Includes the cultivation, processing, and sale of fruits, nuts, vegetables, ornamental plants, and flowers.

Latin “hortus” meaning ‘garden’ and “culture” meaning ‘to grow’

The horticulture industry consists of four major divisions:

Pomology› The science and practice of growing,

harvesting, handling, storing, processing, and marketing tree fruits

Olericulture› The science and practice of growing,harvesting, storing, and marketing vegetables

Ornamental Horticulture

The growing and using of plants for their beauty

Divided into two areas:› Floriculture› Landscape Horticulture

Floriculture› The science and practice of growing,

harvesting, storing, designing, and marketing flowering and foliage plants

Landscape & Nursery Industry› The science and practice of propagating,

growing, installing, maintaining, and using grasses, annual plants, shrubs, and trees in the landscape

Flowering & Foliage Plants

Cut flowers, flowering potted plants, foliage plants, and bedding plants are produced by greenhouse growers

What is a foliage plant?› Plants grown for their colored leaves and

stems› Offices and businesses use these plants to

create an attractive interior environment

Cut Flowers vs. Flowering Plants

Cut Flowers› Sold to florists› Made into bouquets› Sold to the public

Flowering Potted Plants› Sold in the containers in which they are

grown› Used to plant in yards› In home decorations

Specialized Areas

Seed Production› The science and practice of producing,

processing, and selling high-quality seed crops for use in growing a wild range of horticulture crops that grow true from seed

Related Occupations› Those areas that provide products and

services necessary in the production of horticulture crops

Landscape Horticulture It is producing and using plants to

make outdoor environments more appealing

Shrubs and ornamental trees are grown in nurseries before being transplanted

A landscaper designs, plans, installs plants, and maintains plants in the outdoor environment

Horticulture in Georgia

Vegetables - $849 million

Vidalia Onions - $139 million

Watermelon - $118 million

Landscape - $800 million

Nursery - $290 million

Fruit - $141 million Blueberries - $61

million Peaches - $49

million Greenhouse - $261

million Pecans - $125

million

Total Value in 2008: $3.1 Billion

Jobs in Horticulture

Greenhouse Employee

Grounds Maintenance Employee

Gardener Center Employee

Nursery Employee

Golf Course Employee

City, State, or National Park Employee

Factors to Consider before Selecting a Career

Will the job be challenging?

What types of duties does the work involve?

What skills does the job require?

Are jobs in the field available?

Jobs the requires work with hands or tools and done outside

Greenhouse Worker

Propagator

Tree Surgeon

Turf Worker

Greens Keeper

Orchardist

Vegetable Crop Grower

Nursery Grower

Bedder

Pruner

Grounds Keeper

Landscape Gardener

Small Fruit Grower

Farm Chemical Sales

Worker

Jobs that may require advanced training

Landscape Architect

Teacher Plant Breeder Sales Person Greenhouse

Manager Garden Center

Manager Pesticide Specialist

Consultant Researcher Office Supervisor Plant Disease

Specialist Nursery Manager Pest Control

Specialist Landscape

Contractor