FRUIT PRODUCTION - WARM CLIMATE BHT217

Learn to grow a wide range of tropical and subtropical fruits

Grow Avocados, Pineapples, Macadamias, Mangoes, Paw Paws, Cashews, Citrus and lots more.

This course provides a good foundation for working as a farm hand on a fruit farm;  or  a starting point for a career or business in the tropical fruit industry.

If you are considering a career in this industry, we strongly suggest you take advantage of our free career and course advisory service to obtain personal advice and direction from one of our professional horticulturists. We can tell you more about the ins and outs of this industry and help you make the right decisions from the start.

Home Studies Course -Tropical Fruit Growing

Learn to grow a wide range of tropical and sub tropical fruits; including Avocados, Pineapples, Macadamias, Mangoes, Paw Paws, Cashews, Citrus and lots more.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

There are 8 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction To Warm Climate Fruit Growing

  • Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in your region.
  • Explain the nature of the fruit industry in your region (locality).

2. Establishing An Orchard

  • Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard

3. General Cultural Practices

  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality.

4. Tree Fruits

5. Nuts, Vines and Berries

6. Citrus

7. Cultural Management Of A Fruit Plantation or Orchard

8. Marketing Your Produce

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Duration: 100 hours 

 

Aims

On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:

  • Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in a specific region.
  • Explain the nature of the fruit industry in a specific region.
  • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops.
  • Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard.
  • Formulate appropriate methods for marketing specific fruit crops grown in your locality.
  • Develop a calendar for cultural management of a fruit plantation, or orchard.


WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

You will learn a wide variety of things, through a combination of reading, interacting with tutors, undertaking research and practical tasks. Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

  • Compile a resource file of different sources of information regarding commercial fruit varieties.
  • Compare the facilities used to produce six different fruit crops, in a specified locality.
  • Determine criteria for selecting a fruit variety to grow as a commercial crop in your locality.
  • Select five different fruit varieties with commercial potential for a specified location.
  • Analyse the physical layout of a specified orchard.
  • Determine the scope of commercial fruit growing in a specified locality.
  • Demonstrate standard soil tests to three different soils to determine:
    • Soil type
    • pH
    • Drainage
    • Water holding capacity
  • Evaluate the different soils tested to determine their suitability for growing different fruit varieties.
  • Analyse the culture
    • Watering
    • Weed control
    • Soil management
    • Pruning
    • Fertilising
    • Pest control
    • Disease control
  • Determine soil management practices, including:
    • Nutrition
    • Soil structure
    • Cultivation
    • Weed control
  • Determine the susceptibility of specified fruit species to pest and disease problems.
  • Explain how to control different specified pests and diseases, on different fruit varieties grown.
  • Develop sets of guidelines for pruning different types of fruits.
  • Determine the factors which are critical to growing fruit trees in the your locality.
  • Determine criteria to select a site for fruit growing in your locality.
  • Compare the physical layout of two different orchards you visit.
  • Prepare a plan for establishing a fruit growing area, in your locality, including:
    • Concept layout plan drawn to scale
    • Materials list (including plants)
    • Cost estimates for establishment.
  • Analyse different marketing systems in the fruit industry, including at local, national and international levels.
  • Explain common reasons for price fluctuations in the fruit industry.
  • Compare different fruit crops in relation to different factors, including:
    • Storage requirements
    • Storage life
    • Harvesting time
    • Shelf life
    • Transport to market
  • Evaluate the presentation and packaging of different fruits, for marketing through different marketing systems.
  • Analyse different marketing strategies used by a specific fruit grower.
  • Develop a marketing strategy, including:
    • Marketing stages
    • Marketing schedule (i.e. timetable)
    • Estimated marketing costs
    • Handling procedures
    • Promotions, for a specific fruit crop.
  • Differentiate between the cultural practices undertaken by different growers, on the same crop, grown in two different localities.
  • Determine the cultural practices necessary to grow different fruit crops for a twelve month period, on a specified site.
  • Prepare a monthly calendar, covering a twelve month period, for cultural practices in a fruit plantation or orchard you choose.

 


WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!

Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Email us at [email protected]