Exploring the Horticulture Field

1. Exploring the Horticulture Field General Horticulture AG-GH-PS-12

2. 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.

3. 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’

4. 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

5. Ornamental Horticulture • The growing and using of plants for their beauty • Divided into two areas: • Floriculture • Landscape Horticulture

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Horticulture in Georgia Total Value in 2008: $3.1 Billion • 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

12. Jobs in Horticulture • Greenhouse Employee • Grounds Maintenance Employee • Gardener Center Employee • Nursery Employee • Golf Course Employee • City, State, or National Park Employee

13. 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?

15. 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

16. 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