About Horticulture

Horticulturists work in a range of different areas from helping farmers by researching plants and providing them with information on how to improve growth, to helping develop plants for nurseries and garden centres which would need to be grown in large quantities whilst retaining quality and maintaining a good price.

A horticulturist will know the science behind the different plants, flowers and greenery, they will conduct research into gardening, landscaping, plant propagation, crop production, plant breeding, genetic engineering, plant biochemistry and plant physiology with a view to helping develop resistance to pests and disease or creating gardens, recreational areas and parks to help preserve our natural resources.

In Norfolk the John Innes Centre specialises in researching many areas including plant health, crop sustainability and future food supplies all of which inevitably plays a role in all our daily lives.

Horticulture is also the sector the makes sure our countryside is preserved and public places such as forests, woodlands, nature reserves, gardens and endangered plants are maintained, this is very important for lots of reasons, such as tourism and the environment!

There are a whole range of different job roles that you could do within the sector from head gardener, weed control technician, horticultural manager, plant scientist to forestry worker and greenkeeper.

The Agriculture industry as a whole has lots of good websites and many openings for training. Have a look and see what you can find locally to you!