Horticulture

Hort 235 Greenhouse Design & Management

Introduction:

The greenhouse industry in our country is vibrant and dynamic. Technological innovations and economic prosperity have driven the greenhouse industry to new heights of productivity and popularity. A business whose market of old was nearly confined to cut, or fresh flowers now produces huge stocks of interior foliage plants, potted flowering plants such as poinsettias, and a burgeoning array of annual and perennial flower crops for garden use. Industry niches exist for large growers producing generic crops in volume and small growers specializing in superior quality, new market introductions, and low-volume specialty crops. The greenhouse industry offers a wide variety of career opportunities ranging from wholesale and retail production companies, allied supply and facilities companies, private and public greenhouse-oriented associations, educational services, public gardens, institutions of higher education, horticultural and other research firms, publishers, etc.

This course will provide an introduction to greenhouse design and management technologies focusing on the types, locating and installation, outfitting, and operation of greenhouses with references to other similar structures. The subject of greenhouse operations will focus on control of the greenhouse growing environment. A review of the hardware, materials, and methods for controlling the greenhouse environment will be included.

This is a collaborative, hands-on class in which both the instructor, nursery manager, and students are active participants in the educational process. Collaboration is centered on the exchange of information, participation in learning activities, practicing skills, and the assessment of abilities in groups or as individuals. Students are expected to be self-motivated, active learners who take responsibility for their achievement. As a prospective greenhouse professional, realize that an understanding of greenhouse technology is only part of your education. Business management is an equally important and crucial make-or-break component. Consult the nursery ATA degree information sheet for business requirements.

Course Outcomes: students will be able to...

identify and describe the common types of greenhouses and important factors regarding their sitting and orientation.
identify and describe the common structural components of greenhouses and the materials from which they are made.
identify and describe the principal biotic and a biotic factors limiting greenhouse plant growth.
identify and describe the rationale and means for controlling the principal biotic and a biotic factors limiting greenhouse plant growth.
function as part of a group.

Course Materials & Resources

Required Text: Nelson, P. Greenhouse Operation and Management.
General subject hard copy and on-line material in the EdCC library.
Elizabeth Miller Horticultural Library, Center for Urban Horticulture, UW.
Nursery / greenhouse professionals.

Class Schedule

Week 1: Introduction, orientation, formation of work groups, greenhouse industry background.
Week 2: The greenhouse structure: types, sitting, materials, construction. Reading:Ch.2.
Week 3: Managing Light: capturing light, artificial light, shading. Reading: review Ch. 2, read Ch. 12, light only.
Week 4: Managing Temperature: greenhouse heating. Reading: Ch. 3 & temp. portion of Ch. 12. Quiz.
Week 5: Managing Temperature: greenhouse cooling and ventilation. Reading: Ch. 4 & 5.
Week 6: Managing Root Substrate: greenhouse soils and soil less media. Reading: Ch. 6. Quiz.
Week 7: Managing Water: greenhouse irrigation. Reading: Ch. 8.
Week 8: Managing Fertility: greenhouse fertilizers and plant nutrition. Reading: Ch. 9. Quiz
Week 9: Pest Management. Reading: Ch. 14(p.447-458, 474-482), 15 (p. 513-530).
Week 10: Audit presentations.
Week 11: Final quiz.; Non-instructional days: 11 / 19 & 11 / 26

Course Organization

Each class will be structured to follow a generic model:

Announcements: dept., college, professional news, notes.
Review: synopsis of previous class information, student Q &A.
Information: presentation of new subject information, review of study questions, etc.
Laboratory time: introduction and practice of pertinent skills and abilities.

This generic class period schedule will be modified as needed to accommodate student assessment, lab activities or other necessary changes.

Course Requirements

Attendance at all classes is required. If you must miss a class, call and leave a message for the instructor. Students will be responsible for abilities and information covered in missed classes. Students will be dropped from the class after three (3) absences.
Preparation for and participation in class is required.
All assignments -- in class and homework -- must be completed and handed in on time. If you find that you can not complete an assignment on time you must contact the instructor before the due date to make special arrangements. Late assignments will be down graded.
Students will complete a set of study questions to accompany the reading assignments.
Students will work in groups to complete simple audits of the EdCC greenhouse.
Students will work in groups to complete a research project of a greenhouse business.

Group Project

Students will research a production greenhouse business to accumulate information about the nursery and assess the quality of the operation. The project will be presented in its entirety to the class at the end of the quarter. The presentation will be devised by the group and should be no longer than 15 minutes.

Criteria:

Research the following topics:

Crop list and rationale: what do they grow and why? How were these choices made?
The method(s) this business uses to control one limiting factor affecting the production of greenhouse plants.
Production process for two of their crops.
Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of this greenhouse based on the information you have collected.
Keep and submit minutes of all group meetings.
Present information logically, concisely, and clearly within a 15 minute period.
Make use of graphic information, audio-visual aides, or other relevant means to support your presentation.
Submit a complete outline of the information the project garnered.
Each group member should submit a self assessment of their contribution to the project and a peer review of their group mates.

Study Questions:

Students will be given take-home study questions to accompany reading assignments. These are to be completed at home to help reinforce the concepts presented in the reading material. Many of the questions will require interpretation of the reading material and may not have quotable answers. These questions will be used as a basis for subject review and discussion in class at which point students will have a chance to compare their responses to the study questions before submitting them to the instructor. Assessment will be based on the student' s thorough attempt to answer each question. Some of this information may be repeated on quizzes.

Assessment:

Student abilities and knowledge will be assessed several times during the quarter. Assessment will be by written exam, self-assessment, and/or competence in exercising a particular skill. Final grades will be based upon the combination of class attendance and participation, assessments, study questions, and group project .