LN 209 Greenhouse Management
Sample syllabus submitted by Professor Gill, Fall 2005

General Course Information 

Course title: Greenhouse Management

Credit hours: 3 credits

Prerequisites: Must be taken with lab, includes 2 Saturday field trips.

Summary of topics covered in class:

1. Overview of the greenhouse industry.

2. Management applied to greenhouses.

3. Selecting a greenhouse site and structure.

4. Organization and Development of the Greenhouse Site.

5. Laws and Regulations applying to the Greenhouse Industry.

6. Nutrient Management and how to develop a basic MDA nutrient management plan

7. Wholesale marketing of greenhouse crops.

8. Inventory management.

9. Production of  greenhouse plants.

10. Soil and nutrition for greenhouse plants.

11. Media and nutrition management for container grown plants.

12. Irrigation of Greenhouse Crops.

13. Managing weeds in greenhouses.

 There are 1  Saturday field trips to  greenhouse operations. This is not required but encouraged. 

Class format: lectures and hands on activities involving preparation of plant material for propagation, propagation, constructing an irrigation system, use of fertilizer injectors.

 II.               Specific Outcomes 

Students will be able to describe the size and scope of the greenhouse industry. An understanding of how to management skills involving determining goals, planning and organization of a nursery will be learned. Students will learn how to schedule a crop, fertilize, management of plant growth and control pests on major greenhouse crops. A workable understanding of the laws and regulations as they apply to a greenhouse will be imparted. Students will be able to develop a basic MDA nutrient management plan. Student will be able to develop a fertility program for greenhouse plants and be familiar with the steps in setting up the required MDA nutrient management plan. Students will be able to evaluate the pros and cons of overhead irrigation, subirrigation, and trickle irrigation systems. Students will be able to recognize major weeds groups and have an understanding on how to control them in greenhouse. Students will understand how to maintain a sanitary condition to reduce disease and insect infestations in greenhouses. 

IV.              Texts [and Supplies]

Textbook for course: Greenhouse Total Plant Management – University of Maryland Cooperative Extension

 V.        Grading

A.        Requirements

Students must take all tests and complete the nursery design project to receive a grade in Greenhouse Management. Attendance at Saturday field trips is required. If student cannot attend field trip then they can complete a separate project.

B.         Course Grade

Grades are based on two essay exams and completion of a team-project the nursery report.

C.                 Standards

A = 90 -100

B= 80 -89

C= 70 -79

D= 60 -69

D.                 Make-up Policy

Students must let the professor know if they will not be able to attend field trips or not take Exam at least 1 class before the upcoming event.

Sickness as a reason for not taking an exam involves calling the professor at least 4 hours before the exam.

E.                  Late Policy

Must notify professor 7 days before a project is due if you will be late in turning in the project.

F.         Audit Policy

            Notify professor if you are taking class for audit.

VI.       Classroom Policies

A.                 Attendance [and Withdrawal from Class]

Attendance is expected for each of the classes and field trips.

            B.         Academic Honesty

Students cheating on exams will receive a failing grade for the exam.

C.        Classroom Conduct

Use of cell phone during lectures is not allowed. Use of portable recording devices is not allowed in class unless students receive approval from the professor

D.        Support Services

This section tells the student about tutorial centers, computer labs, and other resources available on campus.  Additionally, Disability Support Services recommends the following language:  “A student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see me for arranging a meeting time.  A letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your accommodations will be needed.  The DSS office is located in [room number] and may be called on [telephone numbers, including TDD number].”

E.         Cancellation of Classes

If a class is cancelled due to weather the class closure will be announced on local radio stations such as WMAL.

VII.      Another Section

The professor is available to help students outside of class time but must call to set-up an appointment time. Questions are encouraged in this class. Creative ideas are also encouraged.

.VIII.    Course Schedule

First Class: January 28, 2004

Introduction to the Greenhouse Industry in Maryland

Greenhouse structures – Power point presentation –

Chapter 13 and 14

Introduction to bedding plants

Lab: Go to greenhouse and look at propagation benches and talk about sanitation and handling soilless substrate. Tagging plant material.

Using pH meters and soluble salt meters.

February 4, 2004

Disinfecting a greenhouse – Chapter 15

Rules and regulations that greenhouse growers must comply with in the State

Cost of Producing Plants plugs and flats

Producing a greenhouse crop - scheduling

IPM approach to growing a greenhouse crop.

Optional: Any student who attends the Feb 5 Green Industry Conference at Marine Institute will receive 10 extra points on the first exam.

Chapter 21 – Fertilizer Injection or Fertigation

Have students measure soluble salts and pH

Sanitize greenhouse benches.

Start plugs if they arrive in time

Have students mix leaf compost, pine bark, and peat moss using mixing machinery.

Put in teams of two to plant in their substrate mix and track it.

February 11, 2004

Water Management – Chapter 17 and 18

Substrates

Chapter 27 -32

Lab: propagation of annuals in greenhouse:

Brett Carp, Johnson’s Garden Center hands on lecture

February 21, 2004 Saturday

 Visit to University of Maryland Greenhouses in College Park, MD  and Bell Nursery in Burtonsville

February 18, 2004

Water management – Water testing and Water purification system Chapter 19 -20

Basics of fertilizers and fertility management in greenhouses

Chapter 22 - 26

Growing ornamental cabbage and kale crops – fertility, height management, pest control

February 25, 2004

Nutrient Management Plans –

Understanding and Calculating fertilizers

Injectors and how to calculate the amount of NPK applied.

More on IPM approach for greenhouse management – use of sticky cards and whole plant monitoring.

Lab: calibrate a fertilizer injector – Chuck Schuster, Univ. of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Montgomery County office

March 3, 2004

Managing weeds in the greenhouse

Disease control – Chapter 9

 Chemical and biological control options – Use of Harpin Proteins and Bacillus subtilis

March 10 – Montgomery College’s Spring Break Week

I will speaking at Massachusetts Greenhouse and Nursery Conference

Exam from 7:00 – 9:00a.m.

March 17, 2004 –

Plant Growth Regulators

How to produce a Lily crop

Producing a Cabbage and Kale crop

Lab: Producing vegetable transplants – tomato, peppers, squash, watermelons

March 24 , 2004–

Insect and mite control – Chapter 5 –6

Producing ornamental sweet potato

Producing bulb crops: Asiatic and oriental lilies

March 31, 2004

2nd exam

April 7, 2004

Producing herb crops

All the steps in producing a chrysanthemum crop and Belgium mum

Fertility, growth regulators, pest control.

How to produce a pansy crop – varieties, timing, use of growth regulators

Student presentations

Lab: creating color bowls,

Demonstration of mixing growth regulators and how they are applied.

April 14, 2004

Producing a geranium crop

Fertility, varieties, growth height management

Producing a Gerbera crop

Fertility, varieties, growth height management

 - Irrigation of nursery plants.

Hands on lab with irrigation systems - drip, micro-sprinklers

Student Presentations

April 21, 2004 –

Producing a Poinsettia crop – varieties, fertility, height management, pest management

Herbaceous perennials for greenhouse production

Student Presentations

April 28, 2004 –

Hanging baskets

Tropical plants

Work in greenhouse on crops growing in greenhouse

May 5, 2004

Pesticide use in greenhouses – how to apply

Low risk options

Biological control in greenhouses – when is this feasible

Student Presentations

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