Nut Production BHT219

All you need to know about nut production! For the enthusiast or commercial grower. A detailed study on nut growing with the opportunity to specialise, to some degree, according to your interests. COURSE STRUCTURE There are 8 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction

• Identify different nut crop varieties

2. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties.

• Compare the culture of different commonly grown varieties of nuts.

3. Culture of Nuts

• Determine the cultivation practices appropriate to a range of different nut crops
• Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt, air, etc.

4.Less Common Nuts

• Describe the culture of different less commonly grown varieties of nuts

5. Propagation

• Determine how to propagate a range of different nut plants.

6. Harvest & Post-harvest of Nuts.

• Determine appropriate techniques for harvesting a nut crop. Specify an appropriate post-harvest treatment for a nut crop.

7. Marketing Nuts

• Develop marketing strategies for nuts.

8. Workplace Health and Safety

• Identify risk issues specific to the nut production industry (Health, economic, environmental, etc).

Plus - Special Assignment - On one selected nut group or variety.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school\'s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Course Goals

• Identify different nut crop varieties.
• Determine the cultivation practices appropriate to a range of different nut crops.
• Determine how to propagate a range of different nut plants.
• Determine appropriate techniques for harvesting a nut crop.
• Specify an appropriate post-harvest treatment for a nut crop.
• Develop marketing strategies for nuts.

What the Course Covers Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

• Distinguish between common and scientific perceptions of the term nut.
• Compare the botanical characteristics of the fruits fromdifferent nut genera.
• Describe the botanical classificationdifferent species of nut plants, including where appropriate, botanical interrelationships.
• Prepare a plant collection of nut varieties, including the following details on each plant:
  
  • Plant names (Common and scientific)
  • A photo, illustration or pressed specimen
  • Cultural details
  • Harvest & Post-harvest
  • Uses (eg. valuable products).
• Develop a resource file of different nformation relevant to the nut growing industry, including:
  
  • Suppliers of nut plants
  • Trade or grower associations
  • Publications
• Perform simple tests on different soils to determine:
  
  • Soil type
  • pH
  • Drainage
  • Water holding capacity
• Evaluate three different soils to determine nut varieties suitable for growing in each.
• Explain soil management requirements for dfferent nut varieties, including:
  
  • Nutrition
  • Soil structure
  • Physical attributes
• Explain the control ofdfferent pests and diseases ondifferent nut varieties.
• Develop guidelines for the culture of a specified variety of nut, inyour locality, including:
  
  • Watering
  • Weed control
  • Soil management
  • Fertilising
  • Pest control
  • Disease control
• Prepare a twelve month plan for cultural practices on a specified nut plantation.
• Explain different methods of propagating five different nut species, including:
  
  • Seed
  • Grafting
  • Layering
  • Cuttings
• Determine propagation methods for different nut species, including where applicable, rootstock variety names.
• Demonstrate how to prepare cuttings for different nut species.
• Demonstrate different types of grafts, suitable for propagating nut varieties.
• Determine seed germination procedures for different nut genera.
• Prepare a production schedule, for nursery production of one type of nut.
• Propagate different nut plant varieties.
• Explain the operation of a mechanical harvester which can be used for nuts.
• Determine when to harvest different specified nut species.
• Compare the efficiency of different techniques for harvesting nuts.
• Describedifferent storage techniques for a nut variety.
• Determine the optimum environmental conditions for the storage of different nut species.
• Evaluate three different samples of nuts, which have been stored using different techniques.
• Determine the commercial processing techniques used for nuts.
• Explain post-harvest handling of a specified nut species
• Determine different ways in which nuts can be consumed.
• Compare different ways nuts are packaged for retailing, refering to:
  
  • Physiological impact on the nut
  • Cost of packaging
  • Presentation
• Explain the marketing of different specified nut products, in your locality.
• Develop a marketing plan for a nut product.

For the enthusiast or commercial grower. This course provides a sound foundation for growing a wide variety of nuts, particularly in temperate climates. It also provides opportunities for you to focus more on types of nuts that are of greater interest and relevance to you.

Nuts have some distinct advantages over other crops:

• Long shelf life (so you don\'t need to sell them quickly) or use costly storage or processing to extend the marketing period
• High in Protein - nutritionally intensive foods
  

  Nuts can be grown in most parts of the world - there are species suited to a variety of climates.

  Nuts are an exceptionally valuable food crop that can be harvested and stored for long periods and can also be processed into a variety of products. These characteristics make them particularly useful for commercial growers, for the home gardener, or those striving towards self sufficiency.