Horticulture
Location: East Campus (Oley)         Instructor: Kelly Piccioni         CIP Code: 01.0601
Industry Certifications:
PA Certified Horticulturist (PCH)
PA Pesticide Applicator Certification
OSHA/CareerSafe 10-Hour Certification
Uniforms
Required/Optional Items |
Required Items |
Required Footwear |
Required Safety Gear |
REQUIRED: · Two Forest Green Short Sleeve Tee Shirts with BCTC LogoOPTIONAL: · Charcoal Crewneck Sweatshirt with BCTC Logo |
· Cotton blue or black jeans – proper fitting and no holes | Work boots (prefer hard tipped) | Landscape:
· Safety glasses provided by BCTC · Ear protection · Work gloves
|
Textbooks
The link provided for each book title will take you to Amazon.com. Please note that you are NOT required to purchase the books from Amazon. You may purchase the books from any vendor.
All Horticulture Students
Introductory Horticulture (9th Edition) – by Carroll Shry and Edward Reiley
ISBN #: 978-1-28542-472-9
Landscaping
Landscaping Principles and Practices (7th Edition) – by Jack Ingels
ISBN #: 978-1-42837-641-0
Residential Design Workbook for Ingels’ Landscaping Principles and Practices (7th Edition) – by Jack Ingels
ISBN #: 978-1-42837-643-4
Greenhouse
The Commercial Greenhouse  (3rd Edition) – by James Boodley and Steven E. Newman
ISBN #: 978-1-41803-079-7
Floral Design
Principles of Floral Design (1st Edition) – by Pat Diehl Scace and James M. DelPrince
ISBN #: 978-1-61960-889-4
Principles of Floral Design (1st Edition) (Workbook) – by Pat Diehl Scace and James M. DelPrince
ISBN #: 978-1-61960-895-5
Tool / Supply / Protective Equipment
Floral Design/ Greenhouse Students | Quantity Needed | Level 1, 2, or 3 | Approximate Cost | Suggested Vendor |
Footwear Requirement: Work boots (prefer hard tipped) | 1 pair | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | TBD | Any store |
Aprons (Provided by BCTC) | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | N/A | N/A |
Floral Wire Cutter | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $5.00 | Any store |
Floral Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $16.00 | Fiskars / Amazon |
All-Purpose Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $10.00 | Wescott |
Landscape/ Turfgrass Students | Quantity Needed | Level 1, 2, or 3 | Approximate Cost | Suggested Vendor |
Footwear Requirement: Work boots (prefer hard tipped) | 1 pair | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | TBD | Any store |
Ear Protection | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $3.00 / pack | Any store |
Bypass Pruning Shears | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $50.00 | Felco #2 / Amazon |
25′ Tape Measure | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $20.00 | Stanley / Amazon |
Work Gloves | 1 | Levels 1, 2, & 3 | $15.00 | Amazon |
* BCTC will pay for one pair of safety glasses (if required) and may assist with payment for the testing fees or core certification tests (first time only).  Additional safety glasses and testing fees must be paid by the student.

Program Entrance Recommendations:
- Reading at grade level
- Algebra I or Geometry
- Problem solving/troubleshooting skills
- Ability to work independently and in a team
- Hand-eye coordination
- Mechanical aptitude
Career Pathways:
- Nursery Worker
- Nursery & Greenhouse Manager
- Floral Designer
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker
- Horticulture & Nursery Sales
- Horticulture Grower / Greenhouse
- Aquaponics
- Environmental Resource Management
- Sustainable Technology
- Golf Course Superintendent
- Landscape Designer
- Garden Center Manager
- Arborist
Aquaponics at BCTC
BCTC’s Horticulture Program has a unique aquaponics system. Aquaponics blends together the technology of hydroponics and fish rearing methods of aquaculture. Based upon the nitrogen cycle, the fish produce essential nutrients for the plants, and in return, the plants filter the water. This sustainable technology allows for organic growing of crops like lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and carrots. Horticulture students work closely with Culinary students to plan menus and schedule the crops for proper harvest. This cross collaboration helps build networking skills while implementing a 21st century business model.


