GAINESVILLE, Fla. — What are you doing to take advantage of the popularity of plant products? One of the best returns on investment is education of existing staff to ensure a knowledgeable workforce through online training. University of Florida IFAS Extension provides four-week, award-winning, online training courses in English and Spanish. The first course of the year, Greenhouse 101, starts on May 31, 2021. To register, visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/.
Each course is completely online, and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with PhD professors, and quizzes. The course material is available any time of the day, and two new modules are activated each week during the course the four weeks of each course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Experienced university instructors are available to help, and graduates receive a personalized certificate of completion. There is a course for every level of knowledge and skill.
Online course schedule for 2021:
Course | Date | Registration Closes | Level* | Cost |
Greenhouse 101 | May 31 – Jun 25 | Jun 7 | • | $249 |
Nutrient Management 1 (Introduction) | Jul 5 – Jul 30 | Jul 12 | •• | $249 |
Costing & Profitability | Aug 2 – Aug 27 | Aug 9 | ••• | $499 |
Disease Management | Sep 13 – Oct 8 | Sep 20 | •• | $249 |
Weed Management | Oct 18 – Nov 12 | Oct 25 | •• | $249 |
Hydroponic Vegetable Production | Oct 25 – Nov 19 | Nov 1 | •• | $249 |
*Level
- 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 teaches the underlying horticultural science of plant growth to growers who lack a formal training in horticulture and is a great introduction to the program. Topics covered are plant parts and functions, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness and branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health.
Join the over 2500 growers who have successfully graduated from Greenhouse Training Online courses. We have a 76% completion rate, and our participants provide positive reviews: “Thanks for the opportunity to continue each of our educations with a realistic and flexible program to successfully complete while working full time”, “Courses are very well crafted by growers for growers.”
We offer a 20% discount when you register 5 or more. For more information, including discounts for registering multiple staff email us at: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.
For a video description of our courses, watch our YouTube video (https://youtu.be/3R3uMgcIYpk).
–Maria Paz Kinslow, UF/IFAS