An Introduction to Organic Gardening and Planting Design SCQF Level 4

What is special about this course?

This highly practical course introduces you to the principles and practices of Organic Gardening and the design and practical skills you need to design, plant and maintain beautiful borders. 

This course is ideal for anyone who would like to improve their skills for gardening at home, improve their wellbeing through horticulture or who are considering starting a career in horticulture and would like an introduction to basic horticultural skills. 

This is a practical course delivered face to face at Hermitage Park, Helensburgh, and your lecturer will be Andrew Garven. Andrew came to teaching after a long career in the horticulture industry, latterly managing a large garden centre chain and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. 

 

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, just an enthusiasm for gardening. 

The course consists of four units:

  • Soft Landscaping 

Learn how to group plants into different types so that you can use them in different ways, how to combine plants to create beautiful borders and how to choose plants that will thrive in your garden conditions.  

  • Organic Gardening: Edible Crops 

Learn about the principles of organic growing and how to produce abundant, delicious and healthy crops to eat at home. 

  • Plant Health 

Learn how to identify and control common weeds, pests and diseases and how to protect plants from frost, drought, sun scorch and more. 

  • Problem Solving 

We encourage our students to plan, carry out and evaluate the gardening tasks that they carry out and award them with problem solving certification if they demonstrate these skills during their course.

Equipment

No specialist equipment required but if you have a favourite pair of secateurs you like to use please bring them with you.

How will I study my course?

  • Part Time

This is a practical course delivered face to face at Hermitage Park, Helensburgh, by lecturer Andrew Garven. Andrew came to teaching after a long career in the horticulture industry, latterly managing a large garden centre chain and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. 

 

How long will my course last?

17 Weeks

Where can I study my course?

    • Helensburgh Learning Centre

Start date

Late August

The course will run on Thursdays, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Fees

The fee for this course is £344.

If you are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits may receive a fee waiver. Please refer to page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide to see if you are eligible. If you think this may apply to you, please contact us and we can advise you.

What can I do on completion of my course?

When you’ve successfully completed this course, you can move on to study at a higher level with courses such as: 

  • NPA Horticulture 
  • NC Horticulture 
  • HNC Horticulture 
  • HND Horticulture 

Employment options in this sector could include gardening work or applying to work at a garden centre, nursery, market garden or horticultural charity.

Is there more information available online?

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We were delighted that our gardening and horticulture short courses were so popular last year and are pleased to be able to offer an extra course for the coming year to allow students to progress their studies and widen their horticultural knowledge and improve their skills in the wonderful setting of Hermitage Park in Helensburgh.

Amber Crowley, Curriculum Lead for Horticulture

Apply for Intro to Organic Gardening

I want to start in Aug 23

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI Argyll. UHI Argyll operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.