Produce floriculture crops.
Production could include the following:
- Research and develop, using current technology, a greenhouse container crop production schedule, including
- producing a fall crop (e.g., cyclamen, Zygocactus, primula, azalea, or poinsettia)
- forcing bulbs for winter sales.
- Produce bedding plants, including
- sexual propagation
- transplanting seedlings and/or plugs
- labeling plants
- managing water, nutrition, and pests.
- Produce foliage plants, including
- propagating foliage from cuttings
- transplanting rooted cuttings
- selecting and purchasing rooted cuttings
- labeling and managing plant growth.
- Produce cut flowers, including
- establishing cut-flower crop from seeds, cuttings, or purchased liners
- managing crop through harvest.
Process/Skill Questions:
- What must be researched to develop a complete crop production schedule?
- What are examples of markets for bedding plants? Foliage plants? Cut flowers?
- What are growing niche markets in the floriculture sector?
- What are the laws or regulations related to selling plants and seeds?
- What role does the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) play in the selling of floriculture crops?