Horticulture

Berks Career & Technology Center > Horticulture

About Hort

Horticulture

Location: East Campus (Oley)          Instructor: Kelly Piccioni          CIP Code: 01.0601

Horticulture offers students an opportunity to pursue a career interest in any one or combination of the major areas of horticulture: turfgrass establishment and maintenance, landscape design, construction and maintenance; greenhouse crop production; and floral design. In addition, all students will become members of FFA and have an opportunity to benefit from leadership activities and competitions.
Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance involves the study of turf-grasses; soil identification and amendments; seasonal lawn maintenance and installation tasks; pest control and the establishment of lawns. This discipline also includes the operation of lawn equipment and small engine repair, preventative maintenance, tune-up procedures, blade sharpening and equipment overhaul. Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance includes the principles of landscape design; the study and maintenance of ornamental shrubs and trees, perennials, annuals, bulbs, and fruit trees; corrective and seasonal pruning; propagation; the installation of segmental walls, walk-ways, patios, low voltage lighting and water features; garden installation and equipment operation. Greenhouse Crop Production includes the study of greenhouse structures and operation; soils; fertilization; propagation; watering; pest control; inventory; crop scheduling and greenhouse crop care and sales. Floral Design includes the study of floral shop practices; fresh, silk, and dried floral arranging; holiday and special occasion designs, wedding design work, houseplant care, and trends in the floral industry.
Students in the Horticulture program gain invaluable experience by landscaping the grounds of the student built house project, maintaining portions of the campus, creating seasonal floral arrangements for customers, working on community service projects, and engaging in the production and sale of bedding plants each spring.
Students in this program should be proficient in the following math skills: calculating with fraction operations, computing linear measurements, computing liquid measurements, computing square feet and cubic dimensions, solving ratio problems, and using basic geometry. As well, students should hold interest in working outdoors, indoors, and in all weather conditions; students will get dirty and work in a physically demanding career field.

Certifications

Industry Certifications:

PA Certified Horticulturist (PCH)
PA Pesticide Applicator Certification
OSHA/CareerSafe 10-Hour Certification

Uniforms

Uniforms

Required/Optional Items
Purchased through APEX UNIFORM STORE

Required Items
Purchase from any Vendor

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

 

 

Visit BCTC Uniform Store

Textbooks & Tools

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.

Horticulture

Program Entrance Recommendations:

  • Reading at grade level
  • Measurement skills, fractions, decimals, conversions of fractions/decimals, percentages, and landscape scale
  • Money skills and business math skills
  • Problem solving/troubleshooting skills
  • Ability to work independently and in a team
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Mechanical aptitude

Horticulture Skill Alignment Chart

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.

Aquaponics Fish Tank