Mar 15, 2022
UF Plans Online Greenhouse Training Courses

What’s trending? Plants! What’s in short supply? Employees with horticulture education.

Growers are invited to train themselves or current employees with the University of Florida IFAS Extension’s award-winning online program. All Greenhouse Training Online courses are taught in English and Spanish, according to a news release from the University. The first course of the year, Greenhouse 101, starts on May 30, 2022. To register, visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/.

Each course is completely online and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with professors, supporting educational material and quizzes. The course material is available any time of the day, and two new modules are activated each week during the course for the four weeks of each course, for a total of eight learning modules. Experienced university instructors are available to help, and graduates receive a personalized certificate of completion. There is a course for every level of knowledge and skill.

Online course schedule for 2022:

Course	Dates	Registration Closes	Level*	Cost
Greenhouse 101	May 30 – Jun 24	Jun 6	•	$249
Nutrient Management 1 (Introduction)	Jul 11 – Aug 5	Jul 18	••	$249
Nutrient Management 2 (Advanced)	Aug 22 – Sep 16	Aug 29	•••	$249
Disease Management	Sep 19 – Oct 14	Sep 26	••	$249
Weed Management	Oct 17 – Nov 11	Oct 24	••	$249
Hydroponic Vegetable Production	Oct 17 – Nov 11	Oct 24	••	$249
Irrigation Water Quality & Treatment	Nov 14 – Dec 16	Nov 21	•••	$249

*Level

•Introductory: Practical experience but without formal horticultural science education

•• Intermediate: Some experience and training, or entry university level

••• Advanced: Experienced, well-trained grower, or upper university level

Greenhouse 101 teaches the underlying horticultural science of plant growth to growers who lack formal training in horticulture. Topics included are plant parts, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness, branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health.

So far, more than 3000 growers have successfully graduated from Greenhouse Training Online courses, with a 76% completion rate, according to the University. A 20% discount is offered for those registering five or more.

For more information about the courses and discounts for registration, write to greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.