As a kid, did you get excited about the science project that involved planting seeds in cut-off top milk cartons? Or, maybe you were Mom’s helper in her home garden. And further still, maybe as an adult you have a green thumb, growing and nurturing plants in your own home. If this describes you, you may want to think about parlaying your love of plants to a Bachelor’s degree in horticulture.
A horticulturist is a person who is trained in growing and caring for plants, which include ornamental plants, vegetables, flowers, or fruit. They are trained to perform a number of tasks, which affords them several career opportunities to choose from. They provide technical information to farmers, orchard growers, nursery operators and commercial firms trading in cultivation products.
Other areas of expertise include conducting experiments and investigations involving cultivation processes and pest and disease control. The horticulturists facilitate research and oversee experiments that make an effort to improve plant nutritional value, yield higher harvests and promote greater resistance to disease.
One of the many professions a degree in this arena produces is that of the plant propagator. This expert is basically a plant breeder. He or she reproduces plants by using various methods such as root and stem cuttings, to produce new rootstocks. In an orchard or vineyard, a propagator selects the best seeds or cuttings to start new plants, thereby, growing a totally new plant.
Plant propagators must have extensive education of plant germination and soil content in addition to knowledge of the growing habits of plants. This profession may require either indoor or outdoor work, depending on the kinds of plants being cared for. Also, be aware that this type of work may be physically active and involves a lot of bending and lifting, and possibly handing a variety of equipment. Career opportunities for these plant scientists are available in orchards, vineyards or farm crop technology companies.
Students interested in this type of plant science can find degree programs across the country. Of course, each program is different, and each education institution mandates different requirements for foundational and core subjects. Typically, the curriculum educates students in the application of basic principles to the propagation, culture, production, marketing and post-harvest physiology of plants.
Students who plan to study plant science should have a solid high school background in chemistry, biology/botany and pre-calculus before entering an undergraduate degree program. College specialization courses for a general horticulture degree may cover subjects such as plant propagation, fruit crops, vegetable culture, fruit production and greenhouse management. Students interested in continuing on to a graduate program will be qualified for a career in research and/or teaching at the college or university level.
Your green-thumb could be your ticket to a great career. A Bachelor degree in horticulture, which you can earn from an online college, can be used to establish a profession in variety of fields. You can become a technical advisor or manage of a greenhouses, nurseries, parks or botanical gardens. You could use it to teach at high schools and vocational technology schools. If journalism tickles your fancy, you could even pursue a career as a journalist writing about plants. The options are plentiful!
