Commercial Vegetable Production Online Course
Exam Optional
Tutor Support Yes unlimited by email
Qualification Certificate
Develop the skills and knowledge necessary for commercial vegetable production, examining in depth different techniques of production.
Learn the importance of soils, plant-cultural practices and pest and disease management as an excellent method to obtain optimum crop production. A general overview of vegetable crop management including post harvest and marketing.
Note: This course shares topics with Commercial Organic Vegetable Growing and it would be best to choose your area of interest and the corresponding course rather than do both courses.
Course Aims:
- Select appropriate vegetable varieties for different situations
- Explain general cultural practices used for vegetable production
- Explain the management of potential problems, including pests, diseases, weeds, and environmental disorders in vegetable production
- Explain alternative cultural techniques, including greenhouse and hydroponic production, for vegetables
- Determine specific cultural practices for selected vegetable varieties
- Determine the harvesting, and post-harvest treatment of different vegetables
- Develop marketing strategies for different vegetables
Detailed Course Outline
This course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online. Click below to read about each of the lessons and what you will learn.
There are 8 lessons in this course:
Introduction to Vegetable Growing
- Making the farm Pay
- Understanding economic principles -supply and demand, scale of economy, etc.
- Planning for the farm
- Production planning
- Financial planning and management
- Land care and land management
- Marketing
- Personal welfare
- Risk management -spreading risk, quality management, contingency planning, liquidity
- Creating a sustainable farm enterprise
- Planning for sustainability
- Planning for drought
- Crop selection
- Monocultures
- Alternating crops, broad acre or row crops
- Growing Brassicas -Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Pak Choi, Broccoli, Radish, Turnip
- Growing Legumes -Beans, Broad Beans, Peas
- Growing Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes
Cultural Practices for Vegetables
- Explain general cultural practices used for vegetable production.
- Crop rotation
- Soils
- Plant foods
- Cover Crops
- Legumes and inoculation
- Growing various cover crops -Barley, Buckwheat, Canola, Lucerne, Field pea, Lupins, Oats, Sorgham, Clover, etc.
- Ways of using a cover crop
- Cultivation techniques
- Compost
- Crop Scheduling
- Planting Vegetables -seed, hybrid seed, storing seed, sowing seed
- Understanding Soils
- Dealing with Soil Problems
- Plant nutrition and feeding
Pest, Disease & Weed Control
- Weed control -hand weeding, mechanical, chemical and biological weed control methods
- Integrated Pest Management
- Non chemical pest control
- Understanding Pesticide labels
- Understanding the law in relation to agricultural chemicals
- Plant Pathology introduction
- Understanding Fungi
- Understanding insects, virus and other pathogens
- Insect control -quarantine, clean far5ming, chemicals, biological controls
- Review of common diseases
- Review common pests
- Review common environmental problems
- Review common weeds
Hydroponic and Greenhouse Growing
- Introduction to hydroponics
- Types of systems
- Nutrient solutions
- NFT and other systems for vegetable production
- Growing in a greenhouse (in the ground or hydroponics)
- Components of a Greenhouse System
- Types of Greenhouses and common greenhouse designs (venlo, mansard, wide span, multi span, poly tunnel, Sawtooth, Retractable roof, etc)
- Shade houses, Cold Frames
- Environmental Control -heating, ventilation, lighting, etc
- Controlling moisture (misting, fog, etc)
- Review of various vegetables -Cucurbits (Cucumber, Melon, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Zucchini)
Growing Selected Vegetable Varieties
- Determine specific cultural practices for selected vegetable varieties.
- Tropical Vegetables – Sweet Potato and Taro
- Less common vegetables – Globe Artichoke, Jerusalem Artichoke, Asparagus, Chicory, Endive, Garlic, Leek, Okra, Rhubarb
- Other Crops -Beetroot (Red Beet), Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Sweet Corn, Eggplant, Parsnip, Spinach
Irrigation
- Water and Irrigation
- Infiltration
- Internal Drainage
- Flood, Sprinkler and Trickle irrigation
- The objective of irrigation
- Transpiration and Wilting Point
- When to irrigate Timing irrigations
- Detecting water deficiency or excess
- Understanding soil moisture
- Pumps, sprinklers and other equipment
- Water hammer
- Improving Drainage
- Managing erosion
Harvest & Post-Harvest
- Introduction to harvesting
- Post harvest treatment of vegetables
- Cooling harvested produce
- Harvesting tips
- Storing vegetables
Marketing Vegetables
- Introduction
- Standards for cost efficiency, quality and quantity
- Options for Marketing Produce
- Market Research
- How to sell successfully
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
Get Free Info Pack
Get your free info pack, just fill in the form below and we'll send it out.
Course Tutor
Agriculture spans a wide variety of specializations. Who your tutor is will depend on which area of agriculture you are studying. Upon enrollment you will be assigned your own personal tutor who is there to support you throughout your studies.
How It Works
1. Learn Online
Get access to your course content anywhere, anytime and study at your own pace.
2. Get Help & Support
Connect with other like-minded students and get help from the teacher whenever you have a question.
3. Receive Certificate
Graduate from your course knowing that you have what it takes to reach your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.