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Horticultural courses

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  • MrsFoxgloveMrsFoxglove Posts: 180
    This all sounds so exciting. I was talking to one of the guys at my local garden centre and he's a plant buyer... he travels to Italy to bring stuff to the UK to grow and sell at the garden centre. That's pretty much a dream job to me.  I've been a flight attendant for the last 14 years so travelling soley for plants would be amazing  :#

     I'd also love to learn about herbs & health, I guess that'd be a Herbalist or something?

    I'd love to design gardens but I can't draw for toffee but I suppose it's all done on computers now anyway. 

    I just need to get started on something and see where it takes me.


  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    edited June 2018
    I've only just seen this thread, and have just finished the second RHS Level 2 theory certificate (exams last week). I chose to do them part-time, one day a week. Each one took a term and a half (Sept to Feb, Feb to June). I hope to do the practical next year but sorting it out is a bit more complicated. 

    I absolutely loved it. A few relevant points:

    - it's pretty full on and harder than I thought, but fascinating.
    - you do have to allow a bit of time (up to a day) in the week to do homework / extra study, and quite a lot more time for exam revision.
    - several people on my courses had younger children and coped fine. The hours were 9-4 but we often finished a bit early.
    - I was doing it to fulfil a long-held interest / ambition, and the RHS 'style' suited me, but if you're doing it purely to learn a bit more about plants, there are quite a lot of other, less-intense, non-exam-based courses out there once you start looking
    - It would be perfectly possible to do the theory courses by distance learning or even self-taught (especially the plant growth one, where there's a very good textbook) if that would suit you. I could not have done it - I like a classroom and a teacher - but it is possible.
    - if you're doing the RHS theory courses, do the plant growth one first. Every one of us who went on to do the second one said we were so glad we did it that way round. One person did it the other way round and struggled.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • MrsFoxgloveMrsFoxglove Posts: 180
    I've enquired about enrolling on a course :# wish i'd emaiked earlier as now i'll have to wait till morning to find out the score  :s i'm so impatient ha ha 

    LG would you.mimd if I inboxed you to pick your brain a bit? X 
  • bulkerbbulkerb Posts: 258
    Well love thought that there are so many budding gardeners out there.
    I work in a orivate garden near to henley on thames and its beautiful here any one looking to gain knowledge and feels they would like to give it ago message me i will ask my boss if  we can give someone a helping start 
  • ChrisWMChrisWM Posts: 214
    I’ve just started an RHS endorsed online course, found via their website’s “Learn” tab:
    https://www.learningwithexperts.com/

    It’s great for a novice like me.
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
  • ChrisWMChrisWM Posts: 214
    I agree @bulkerb re the Henley area being beautiful. My mother-in-law lived there, and we still visit the area often. Toad Hall garden centre is a frequent stop!
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
  • ChrisWM said:
    I’ve just started an RHS endorsed online course, found via their website’s “Learn” tab:
    https://www.learningwithexperts.com/

    It’s great for a novice like me.
    Ooo you will have to keep us updated! I could do a part time practical course at a horticulture college near me, works out at 3 hours a week in the evening. Just umming and arring. Don't want to start something I can't finish. Let us know how you get on. 
  • I've enquired about enrolling on a course :# wish i'd emaiked earlier as now i'll have to wait till morning to find out the score  :s i'm so impatient ha ha 

    LG would you.mimd if I inboxed you to pick your brain a bit? X 
    How did you get on with your enquiry? What course have you been looking at?
  • MrsFoxgloveMrsFoxglove Posts: 180
    So I have now got all the info on the RHS level 2 diploma in gardening, plants and propagation which starts in September. I think i'm gonna just bite the bullet and sign up. Very nervous though as i'll be taking it on as well as working and juggling my little ones new life at big school but i'm sure I can make it work! How are you getting on? X
  • So I have now got all the info on the RHS level 2 diploma in gardening, plants and propagation which starts in September. I think i'm gonna just bite the bullet and sign up. Very nervous though as i'll be taking it on as well as working and juggling my little ones new life at big school but i'm sure I can make it work! How are you getting on? X
    Im still looking at options... theres alot of choice. I've seen a course at a local ish college that's part time, level 2 on practical side but it's alot more expensive than the online theory courses, pretty much double the price. I'm not sure either if I should do online and just buy one section of the course and see how I manage with the juggling. It overall works out £20 more expensive if I do work through them all but then will that stop my motivation to get it done!? hmm I'm umming and arring 
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