Horticulture

This HNC in Horticulture has been designed by subject specialists to provide you with comprehensive introduction to the horticulture sector. Throughout the course, you will develop the skills, knowledge, professional behaviours and values that are required to enter the horticulture sector or progress to further academic study.

This course is delivered by skilled horticulturalists, garden designers and plant scientists to enhance the learning experience. The course structure is centred around authenticity, allowing you to gain real-world experiences that enhance your learner journey. You will study a broad range of specialisms to give you a better understanding of the exciting range of career opportunities that exist within the horticulture sector.

The units that you will study are project-based and aim to develop your planning, initiative and practical skill. The course integrates self-management, social intelligence and innovation meta skills at its core which complement the vocational and technical elements of the course, developing your personal skills which you can employ and adapt in future for further study or in your career.

Course Modules

This HNC in Horticulture has 6 mandatory units.

Production Horticulture – this unit develops knowledge and skills in the production of ornamental, cut flower and edible crops. You will gain knowledge of production planning, and the practical skills required to propagate and produce a variety of crop plants.

Maintaining gardens and greenspaces – this unit provides you with the knowledge and skills for the maintenance of gardens and greenspaces, and introduces you to seasonal tasks, equipment, protection and maintenance of plants, planted areas, and hard landscape features.

Design and creation of gardens and greenspaces – this project-based unit provides you with the knowledge and skills to design and implement a garden. It introduces you to design principles, planting design, and planting skills.

Social and community horticulture – this unit focusses on the social and community aspects of horticulture. It introduces you to current practice and future developments in sustainable horticulture and net zero carbon emissions, and will raise your awareness of the benefits of therapeutic horticulture.

Ecology and environment for horticulture – this unit will provide you with a broad introduction to the ecological and environmental issues that you need to bear in mind for the design, creation, and maintenance of commercial gardens or greenspaces. You will learn how to conduct ecological surveys, write policy recommendations and discuss important environmental issues facing the horticulture sector.

Plant biology – this unit provides you with an introduction to plant taxonomy, an understanding of the main structures that develop in the plant life cycle, and plant physiological processes. Learning through application, you will conduct plant trials to introduce you to the world of plant science.