Commercial Herb Grower

The course teaches you how to start a herb nursery or herb farm for commercial production either for essential oils or dried herb sales.

The Course  comprises of the  following modules:

• Introduction To Herb Culture
  • Introduction to herbs, definitions, uses. Classification of herbs; use of a botanical key.
  • Cultural Techniques…planting, soils, drainage, feeding, mulching, composting, pruning.
  • Propagation Techniques…propagation mixes, growing structures, cuttings, seed, separation & division, layering.
  • Identification of plant health problems…pest & disease, frost, heat, water stress, etc.

• Using Herbs
  • Processing and Use of Herbs
  • Medicinal, culinary, perfumes, dyes, oils, distillation processes, etc.
  • Harvesting & Storage, Air drying, oven drying, microwave drying, freezing, fresh storage, when & how to harvest.

• The Mints (Lamiaceae)
  • Mentha species … Peppermint, spearmint, applemint, wintermint, pennyroyal, corsican, ginger mint etc.
  • Lavender (Lavendula varieties) & thyme (Thymus).
  • Assorted Lamiaceae varieties: Lemon Balm, Hyssop, Rosemary, Bee Balm (Monarda), Basil, Savory, Marjoram, Sage.

• The Daisies (Asteraceae)
  • Artemisia species…Southernwood, Wormwood, Tarragon, Mugwort.
  • Miscellaneous Asteraceae: Chamomile, Tansy, Safflower, Costmary, Yarrow, Calendula, Dandelion etc.

• The Parsley Family (Apiaceae)
  • Parsley, Coriander, Dill, Caraway, Angelica, Cumin, Fennel, Lovage, Sweet Cicely etc.

• The Onion Group
  • Chives, Leek, Garlic chives, Tree onion, Welsh onion, etc.
  • Garlic

• Other Herbs
  • Rosaceae (Rose, Burnet, Strawberry, blackberry, etc)
  • Miscellaneous: Lemon grass, Lemon verbena, Bay, Sorrel, Dock, Juniper, Horseradish, EveningPrimrose, etc.
  • Scented Geraniums, Eucalyptus and Others

• Pests & Diseases
  • Companion Planting
  • Natural Pest Control: Herb sprays, biological control, etc.

• Landscaping with Herbs
  • Landscape Design Principles and Practices: How to draw a landscape plan
  • Home Gardening With Herbs: Cottage gardens, hedges & borders, tubs, baskets, kitchen gardens, herb lawns, herb indoor plants.
  • Public Landscaping: historic herb gardens (Knot gardens etc), herbs for low maintenance & colour inparks..etc.

• Herb Farming
  • Establishing and Operating a Herb Nursery: Open ground vs container growing, nursery layout, potting soils, pots and labels, marketing, etc.

• Herb Farming
  • Establishing & Operating a Herb Farm: Soil Preparation and management (plastic mulch, organic mulches, cultivation), rowcropping.

• Herb Farming
  • Evaluating Herb enterprises, assessing market demand. Deciding how to proceed.

The course is an intensive 4 week course.