HORT 2050 - General Horticulture
Definition and scope
Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating, processing, and marketing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
Etymology: hortus (garden) + cultura (cultivation).
Major sectors
Pomology: Fruits (small fruits, vines, tree fruits, brambles, nuts)
Olericulture: Vegetables (plants grown for fruits, leaves, roots, pods); herbs; roots/stems/leaves; flavorings, foods, medicines
Ornamental horticulture: Nursery Industry; Floriculture; Turfgrass Production
Pomology
Fruits categories: small fruits; vines; tree fruits; brambles; nuts
Olericulture
Vegetables; herbs; other plant products used in flavorings, foods, medicines
Ornamental horticulture
Includes: Nursery Industry; Floriculture; Turfgrass Production
Nursery Industry
Grown in fields, greenhouses, or shade houses; living state
Product types: Trees, Shrubs, Ground covers, Vines, Annuals, Perennials
Floriculture
Sectors: Cut flowers; Bedding plants; Houseplants; Potted plants; Seasonal/holiday demand
Turfgrass Industry
Applications: lawn maintenance at homes, commercial sites, athletic fields, golf courses; sod farms; production/harvest
Interdisciplinary links
Horticulture is interrelated with Applied Plant Science, Agronomy, and Forestry
ROI and production emphasis
Horticultural plants are production-intensive with high ROI per unit area
Example: high profits from strawberries relative to other crops
Distinct from many agronomic/forestry products which are often nonliving
Global impact
Major global food source; supports nutrition and economy; provides employment; aesthetic value
International horticulture
Exports provide foreign exchange and jobs; diversification to non-traditional crops in lesser-developed countries
World's leading crops
Leading food crops: Corn/Maize (US); Wheat (China); Rice, milled (China); Potato (China); Soybean (US); etc.; major producers dominate multiple crops
World's leading vegetable crops
Top crops include Potato, Tomato, Watermelon, Onion, Cucumber, Cabbage, Eggplant; China leads in many
World's leading fruit crops
Banana (India); Apple (China); Grapes (China); Orange (Brazil); Mango (India); etc.
Recommended reading
Chapter 1: Horticulture is diverse, expansive, and constantly evolving.