Greenhouse Training Online is designed for people in the US and abroad who are already working in the greenhouse industry. Course levels range from introductory to advanced. Each course runs for 4 weeks, costs $US200 per participant, and includes a personalized certificate of completion. Each week there are two streaming videos, readings and one assignment (about 3-4 hours total commitment per week), which can be accessed at any time of day. Bilingual PhD instructors are available via text chat and discussion features. For more information, go to backpocketgrower.org under “training” and “online courses”.
The schedule of online courses planned for 2016 include:
| Title | Dates | Level* | Registration Link |
| Greenhouse 101 | 05/30 – 06/24 | • | Click here to register |
| Nutrient Management 1 (Intro) | 07/18 – 08/12 | •• | Click here to register |
| Nutrient Management 2 (Advanced) | 08/22 – 09/16 | ••• | Click here to register |
| Disease Management | 09/26 – 10/21 | •• | Click here to register |
| Weed Management | 10/24 – 11/18 | •• | Click here to register |
• 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. The underlying horticultural science of plant growth (light, temperature, irrigation, nutrients, flowering, growth). Ideal for new employees, or employees with practical experience but lacking in formal horticulture training.
- Nutrient Management for Container-Grown Crops: Level 1. The basics of essential plant nutrients, fertilizer types, substrate-pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and substrate physical properties. The typical participant is a grower with practical experience who is responsible for irrigating and fertilizing greenhouse or nursery crops.
- Nutrient Management for Container-Grown Crops: Level 2. In depth fertilizer topics such as pH management, fertilizer formulation, and corrective actions. For employees who already took the introductory nutrient course, are experienced growers, or are in technical or sales roles.
- Disease Management. The factors that contribute to plant disease development, and management options for diagnosing and controlling diseases in greenhouse and nurseries.
- Weed Management. How to manage all aspects of weed management in nurseries and greenhouses including weed identification, developing herbicide programs, and the latest non-chemical methods of weed control that actually work.
For more information
University of Florida
Rosanna Freyre, Ph.D., Paul Fisher, Ph.D., Brian Pearson, Ph.D., Chris Marble, Ph.D., and Gul Shad Ali, Ph.D.
Environmental Horticulture Dept., USA
greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu