Horticulture
Unit 4. Fruits, vegetables and flowers. Covers Importance of horticulture; Orchards and gardens; Orchard management; Plant propagation; Cultivation of fruits; Cultivation of vegetables; Cultivation of flowers; Preservation of fruits and vegetables.
About this unit
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with garden crops: fruits (pomology), vegetables (olericulture), flowers and ornamentals (floriculture), and their processing. This unit begins with why horticulture matters for nutrition, income and crop diversification, then covers the planning of orchards and gardens, orchard management practices such as training and pruning, and the methods used to propagate plants. It then describes the cultivation of major fruits, vegetables and flowers, and ends with the principles and methods of preserving fruits and vegetables. Propagation and orchard management link directly to the fruit crops, while preservation connects horticulture to industry and reduces post-harvest losses.
How to prepare
Learn the branches of horticulture and their names, the common layout systems with their merits, and the differences between training and pruning. Memorise which propagation method is used for each major fruit (e.g. mango by veneer or softwood grafting, banana by suckers, grape by cuttings). For each crop, note its family, propagation, season and one or two important disorders or pests. For preservation, learn the principles and the end-points of jam and jelly. Expect matching and situation-based questions.
Topics in this chapter
Importance of horticulture
Fruits and vegetables in the diet, crop diversification and the processing industry.
5 questionsOrchards and gardens
Orchard location and layout, ornamental and kitchen gardens.
5 questionsOrchard management
Planting systems, training, pruning, intercropping, and protection from frost and sunburn.
5 questionsPlant propagation
Trees, shrubs, climbers, annuals and perennials; propagation by seed, cutting, budding, layering and grafting.
5 questionsCultivation of fruits
Mango, papaya, banana, guava, citrus and grapes.
5 questionsCultivation of vegetables
Radish, carrot, potato, onion, cauliflower, brinjal, tomato, spinach and cabbage.
5 questionsCultivation of flowers
Gladiolus, canna, chrysanthemum, rose and marigold.
5 questionsPreservation of fruits and vegetables
Principles and methods; jellies, jams, ketchup and chips.
5 questions