Become an expert at growing fruit.

This course is ideal for anyone serious about fruit growing; from the small hobby farmer to orchard worker, or enthusiastic amateur who aspires to win first prize for their fruit at the local garden show.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Temperate Fruit Growing
   • Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in your region.
2. Establishing an Orchard
   • Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard.
3. General Cultural Practices
   • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part A).
4. Tree Fruits
   • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part B).
5. Vines, Nuts & Berries
   • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part C).
6. Citrus
   • Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops in your locality (Part D).
7. Cultural Management of a Fruit Plantation or Orchard
   • Develop a calendar for cultural management of a fruit plantation, or orchard.
8. Marketing Your Produce
   • Formulate appropriate methods for marketing specific fruit crops grown in your locality.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Identify different types of fruit crops, which can be successfully grown in your region.
• Explain the nature of the fruit industry in your region (locality).
• Determine the cultural requirements for different fruit crops.
• Develop a plan for the establishment of an orchard.
• Formulate appropriate methods for marketing specific fruit crops grown in your locality.
• Develop a calendar for cultural management of a fruit plantation, or orchard.

• Compile a resource file different sources of information regarding commercial fruit varieties.
• Compare the facilities used to produce different fruit crops, in a specified locality.
• Determine criteria for selecting a fruit variety to grow as a commercial crop in your locality.
• Select different fruit varieties with commercial potential for a specified location.
• Analyse the physical layout of a specified orchard.
• Determine the scope of commercial fruit growing in a specified locality.
• Demonstrate standard soil tests to three different soils to determine:
  • Soil type
  • pH
  • Drainage
  • Water holding capacity
• Evaluate the three different soils tested to determine their suitability for growing different fruit varieties.
• Determine the factors which are critical to growing fruit trees in your locality.
• Determine criteria to select a site for fruit growing in your locality.
• Compare the physical layout of two different orchards you visit.
• Prepare a plan for establishing a fruit growing area, in your locality, including:
  • Concept layout plan drawn to scale
  • Materials list (including plants)
  • Cost estimates for establishment.
• Analyse three different marketing systems in the fruit industry, including at local, national and international levels.
• Explain four common reasons for price fluctuations in the fruit industry.