Online Seed Propagation Course

Learn the intricacies of propagating plants of all types from seed.

This course assumes general foundation knowledge of plant propagation. For those with industry or significant amateur experience, the course may contain some sections that are little more than revision, but for anyone with minimal or no knowledge of seed propagation, some additional reading may be required in parts in order to gain optimum benefit from the course.

Seed propagation isn't always straight forward! Some plants may germinate and grow with ease, but for others, the seed and seedlings must be handled in a very particular way to ensure not only germination, but also survival of the seedling. This is a course for:

• Nursery Professionals and nursery workers
• Seed company staff, plant breeders
• Environmental or revegetation officers
• Anyone else interested in developing a deeper understanding of seed propagation.

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • scope
   • open ground propagation
   • controlled environment propagation
2. Seed Botany
   • anatomy
   • physiology
   • pollination
   • hybridisation
   • genetic purity, etc.
3. Seed Sources
   • selection
   • collection
   • timing
   • wild collecting
4. Seed Storage
   • treatments
   • cleaning
   • drying
   • storage
   • disease control
   • germination testing
5. Dormancy
   • breaking dormancy
6. Germinating
   • annuals
   • perennials
   • vegetables
7. Propagating selected Woody Species
8. Direct Seeding
   • grasses
   • woody species
   • revegetation projects, etc.
9. Seedling Management

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.

Aims:

• Discuss the nature and scope of commercial seed propagation.
• Explain the botanical characteristics of seed and the processes that occur when a seed germinates.
• Determine appropriate procedures for harvesting different seeds in different situations.
• Determine appropriate treatments for different types of seeds following harvest in order to sustain viability.
• Determine appropriate treatments for breaking dormancy in order to initiate germination with a range of different seeds.
• Determine how to sow and germinate seed of commonly grown herbaceous plants including vegetables, annuals and perennials.
• Determine appropriate propagation techniques for a range of woody plants including trees, shrubs, ground covers and climbers.
• Determine propagation and plant establishment strategies for developing a variety of different types of plantings through direct seeding onto sites where germinated plants will remain permanently in the position where the seed germinates.
• Manage germinated seedlings as they develop in a way that will optimise the survival rate.

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.