Principles of Horticulture: Level 2

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Whether you are looking to start your career within the horticultural profession, or developing your existing career, this course can support your ambitions. We strongly recommend completing the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development (theory) course before progressing on to the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture (practical) course. In addition to elevation, another determinant is the annual distribution of rainfall. Plants that grow and flower in the monsoon areas, as in India, will not succeed where the climate is uniformly wet, as in Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Another factor is the length of day, the number of hours the Sun is above the horizon; some plants flower only if the day is long, but others make their growth during the long days and flower when the day is short. Certain strains of the cosmos plant are so sensitive to light that where the day is always about 12 hours, as near the Equator, they flower when only a few inches high; if grown near the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn, they attain a height of several feet, if the seeds are sown in the spring, before flowering in the short days of autumn and winter. Poinsettia is a short-day plant that may be seen in flower in Singapore on any day of the year, while in Trinidad it is a blaze of glory only in late December. This theory course will allow you to develop a level of plant knowledge deemed essential by the horticultural industries. There’s even a little section on plant and soil science and plant health, however, I have other more suitable guides to use for these important subjects. Each chapter clearly and logically sets out to cover a key topic, e.g. roses, by looking at a brief input into the history of the plant, followed importantly by an informative section on the establishment and maintenance of the entire group, including the pruning and training of these key plants. Everything you need to know to help you pass the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture. View course All Gardening courses

Instruction is carried out by highly qualified tutors in the extensive ornamental grounds, plant nursery, woodlands areas at the college. Merrist Wood has developed a considerable reputation for horticulture and for it’s award-winning gardens designed and built at RHS Flower Shows. The diverse range of plants in the college’s 400 acre estate, together with purpose-designed buildings, including lecture rooms, laboratories, library facilities and computer suites. Join this flourishing environment for horticulture students! The Royal Horticultural Society's Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture is an internationally recognised qualification designed for those just starting out in gardening as well as experienced gardeners. Katherine Bamford BSc (Agric Sci) Hons, Cert Ed., formerly lecturer in horticulture science at Oaklands College, St. Albans, works in the commercial sector with herbs, organic vegetables and hardy plants. We are delighted to announce that RBGE will be running the new RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development course from August 2023. ThePrinciples of Plant Growth and DevelopmentLevel 2 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) course is a nationally-recognised, one-year, part-time qualification for those wishing to pursue a professional career in horticulture. Also, welcoming amateur gardeners who wish to have their horticultural knowledge formally assessed.

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This course will equip you with the knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles that underpin horticultural practices. The course assesses the knowledge of the scientific principles underpinning horticultural practices and supports career development.

If you’re undertaking the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture there are a number of potential book titles to choose from. There is no sharp line of demarcation between the tropics and the subtropics. Just as many tropical plants can be cultivated in the subtropics, so also many subtropical and even temperate plants can be grown satisfactorily in the tropics. Elevation is a determining factor. For example, the scarlet runner bean, a common plant in temperate regions, grows, flowers, and develops pods normally on the high slopes of Mount Meru in Africa near the Equator, but it will not set pods in Hong Kong, a subtropical situation a little south of the Tropic of Cancer but at a low elevation. This fifth edition has been restructured to bring it in to line with the most recent RHS syllabus, adding new material on the basis of science for horticulturists. The book contains beginning of chapter summaries, highlighted definitions and key points, and end of chapter test your learning questions. Each chapter ends with references for further reading. Eligible learners working towards the certificate may receive funding for some or all of their fees. If funding is received it will be a compulsory requirement for those learners to sit the exams.

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If you're looking for supplementary reading around the RHS Level 2 course in preparation for the exam, here are Tom Cole's top four recommendations. The Four Best Books for RHS Level 2 1. RHS Encyclopaedia of Gardening Charles Adams BSc (Agric) Hons, Dip Applied Educ., Fellow Inst Horticulture, is a lecturer at Capel Manor College and University of Hertfordshire, an external examiner in horticulture, and also a member of the Royal Horticultural Society Qualifications Advisory Committee.