Horticultural Science

Horticulture is more dependant than ever before on science, and despite its significance being largely unrecognised, without horticultural science the world's food production would grind to a halt and environmental problems far beyond aesthetic concerns would create havoc across the planet.

We all depend on horticultural science whether we realize it or not.

Careers

Opportunities for a career in horticulture are many and varied, but they do change from place to place, and time to time. Anyone who wants a sustained career in horticulture needs a broad-based foundation of knowledge. (Research has indicated that "generalist" courses produce horticulturists with better long term career prospects than "specialist" courses.)

A Strong Foundation

Horticulture means "culture of, or growing of, plants". All plant cultivars are different in what they need, how they should be treated in different situations and how they will perform under different circumstances.

There is a system to the way plants are classified, and the key to understanding not only how to identify them, but also how to grow them, is in developing an understanding of plant families (broad groupings) first, and then more specific names. Once you are able to identify a plant as belonging to the Lamiaceae family, for instance, you can then begin to see all sorts of plants that belong to that family. Over time you will become aware of characteristics they share (e.g. all Lamiaceae plants tend to be able to propagate from cuttings).

If you don't know plant families, and you are looking to study horticulture, be sure you choose a course that will teach you this.

Scope

Horticultural scientists can be concerned about growing plants for any purpose, whether commercial, amenity or amateur. Commercial growing can involve production of all types of plant crops: fruit, vegetables, herbs, nursery plants, etc. Amenity involves growing in support of some purpose other than harvesting a crop, such as improving the environment, or visual affect of an area. Amateur horticulture includes home gardening.