Horticulture is an excellent career choice for those who enjoy gardening and plants. When considering a career in horticulture, most people consider various options and work kinds. One can be concerned about the job’s future scope and pay. ‘Is Horticulture a Good Career?’ we’ll find out.

Horticulture experts’ employment is expected to grow by 7% between 2018 and 2028, according to the BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What Is Horticulture?

Horticulture is the branch of plant agriculture that deals with fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants grown in the garden.

Horticulture is derived from two Latin words: ‘Hortus,’ which means ‘garden,’ and ‘colored,’ which means ‘to cultivate.’

Horticulture is the practice of growing crops for food and ornamental plants. Pomology and Olericulture are two fields that deal with growing plants for food.

Floriculture and landscape horticulture are two branches of ornamental plant gardening.

How to Become Horticulturists?

The steps below detail how to go about seeking a profession as a horticulturist:

Earn a Bachelor Degree

Horticulturists must have a bachelor’s degree to work in the field. Horticulture, biology, botany, and other related fields are common majors in undergraduate programs. The life sciences, such as ecology, environmental science, botany, and organic chemistry, are heavily emphasized in your educational program. Horticultural and agricultural science, plant genetics, and soil science are all included in some programs. While most of a horticultural program’s coursework is academic, students frequently study subjects in a laboratory to gain relevant research, experimental, and technical skills.

Complete An Internship

An internship may be required as part of a bachelor’s degree program in horticulture. However, students whose programs do not include internships may do so voluntarily. An internship allows you to put your skills and knowledge into practice in a professional context. Internships with commercial plant producers, landscaping companies, and plant nurseries are good options.

Gain Work Expereiance

In addition to internships, entry-level positions offer excellent opportunities to gain professional experience. Consider taking on roles that will allow you to obtain additional experience in the field you wish to specialize in. If your horticulture specialization is the breeding and production of food crops, search for jobs on commercial farms. Entry-level positions can lead to advancements in your career and the opportunity to use your horticulture knowledge in various settings.

Pursue Certification

Horticulturists who have or are pursuing advanced qualifications can also earn the Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) certificate, the highest level of certification offered by the ASHS. Horticulturists with the CPH certification can work as consultants on commercial, industrial, and government projects, and both levels of certification require continuing education to stay current.

Consider a Master Degree

While earning a graduate degree isn’t required for employment, it can help you advance your career. However, if you want to pursue advanced certification in horticulture, you may need a master’s degree. Typically, graduate students pursue a Master of Science in Horticulture, with coursework focusing on advanced plant and soil science, chemistry, plant pathology, botany, and plant genetics applications.

What is the Average Salary of Horticulturists?

Horticulturists make $39,636 per year, though this figure is subject to change. For example, horticulturists in management positions, consultancy jobs, and scientific and research responsibilities frequently earn more than the average.

Horticulturists Salary in the Different States

• San Jose, CA- $33.97Per Hour
• Washington, DC- $28.04 Per Hour
• Boston, MA- $20.31 Per Hour
• Denver, CO- $17.87 Per Hour
• San Antonio, TX- $16.86 Per Hour
• Florida- $20.90 Per Hour

What do horticulturists do?

Horticulturists are in charge of plant breeding, propagation, selection, and production. Horticulturists are in charge of a variety of responsibilities, regardless of their sector of work:

• Plant research and data collection, particularly food crops
• Soil health and nutrient density are being monitored.
• In the environment, commercial and residential landscapes, and urban regions, selecting plant species for propagation.
• Providing safe and environmentally sound fertilizing and pest management advice to commercial farms, landscape developers, and gardeners.
• Plant and crop cultivation
• City parks, public leisure places, and golf courses are examples of commercial and urban areas that need to be managed.

Is a Horticulture Degree Hard?

It’s a difficult job, and you’ll need a lot of practice. I generally encourage doing a lot of internships, especially at various public gardens, to figure out which path you want to go. Some horticulture is particularly science-oriented, with a strong emphasis on plant conservation.

Pros and Cons of Horticulture

Let explain some of the benefits and drawbacks of horticulture:

Pros of Horticulture

Horticulture has a wide range of applications and benefits:

Stress Relieved

The discipline of urban horticulture can help you manage your stress. Having a responsibility or something to look after actually lowers your stress levels. Providing you with the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day.

Prevents Pollution

Pollution is one of the most serious issues confronting our environment today. Horticulture could assist in minimizing air pollution both inside and outside of dwellings. Other methods of preventing indoor and outdoor air pollution exist.

Heart Warming Gardens

Relax by sitting in your garden and looking at the plants you’ve grown over time. Furthermore, if you plan to invite visitors, these are excellent discussion starters.

Vegetables for Your Kitchen

You can grow any plant that your climate allows in your garden, including vegetables for your kitchen.

Having a garden built into the architecture can increase the looks of your home and the value of your home.

Cons of Horticulture

Horticulture is thought to have inevitable negative consequences by many people. However, after extensive investigation, we have identified only a few drawbacks, which are stated below:

Lack of Knowledge

Many individuals find it challenging to grow plants because they forget to water them, causing them to wilt. Many people are unaware of proper fertilizer application techniques for plants since they are unfamiliar with urban horticulture practices.

Lack of Space

Many individuals do not have enough space in their homes to plant or garden, but keeping a little pot on your desk counts as horticulture.

Is Horticuturiest in Demond?

In the United States, there are an estimated 1,028,700 horticulturists. Between 2016 and 2026, the job market for horticulturists is predicted to drop by -0.8 percent.

Career Options in Horticulture

Horticulture Consultant

• Their annual income averages $109,500 (US).
• Provides a wide range of essential services to businesses and institutions.
• A golf course organization advises farmers on crop selection to grass management.

Landscape Designer

• A landscape designer’s average annual compensation is $68,500 (US).
• Provides a plant-rich landscape to meet a client’s needs.
• For better plant growth and upkeep, it neglects soil management.
• Private persons, businesses, and government entities are served.

Plant Pathologist

• A plant pathologist’s average annual pay is $126,000 (US).
• For the improvement of plants, I discovered a variety of plant-based ailments.
• It is necessary to travel to specific regions where plant-based diseases can be found. He must collect samples, assess soil conditions, and connect with team members for a collaborative approach.

Horticultural Inspector

• The average annual wage in the United States is 55,425 dollars.
• In the food sector, it plays a crucial function.
• Maintains high yields while maintaining a consistent level of quality
• Fruit and vegetable crops are being examined.
• Provides instructions on how to improve the methods for a higher plant output.

Horticultural Technicians

• The average annual pay is $47,500.
• Planting, caring for, and keeping plants are all part of the job.
• To provide their services, they work in four primary areas:

1. Medicine
2. Decorative
3. Educational
4. Food

Best Online Courses for Horticulture Study

Here are Given Some Best Courses for Horticulture

Introduction to Horticultural therapy By Udemy

For program participants, therapists, and those who contact the growing environment, HT provides positive and satisfying experiences. Because a deeper pull drives us towards nature, those who participate in these programs intuitively realize the many benefits and delights that come from engaging with it. You will study the aims and principles necessary for building a horticultural program in this course.

Apply Now

Plant Bioinformatics Methods Specialization By Coursera 

In Bioinformatics Methods I, the Plant Bioinformatics Specialization on Coursera introduces core bioinformatics competencies and resources, such as NCBI’s Genbank, Blast, multiple sequence alignments, and phylogenetics, and in Bioinformatic Methods II, protein-protein interaction, structural bioinformatics, and RNA-seq analysis. We cover 33 plant-specific web tools in Plant Bioinformatics, ranging from genome browsers to transcriptome data mining to promoter/network analysis.

Apply Now

Nursery Growers Course By Warnborough

This introductory course will show you how to get started in the nursery business. You’ll learn how to propagate plants, choose what to propagate, start a modest, low-cost operation, and market what you grow. Every lesson includes a section dedicated to expanding your understanding of plants.

Apply Now

Horticulture Marketing By ACS Distance Education

Competition is intense in every business, including horticulture, and success is determined by how you advertise your product. A thorough understanding of marketing operations will help a company stay ahead of the competition.

This is a well-rounded, comprehensive training that provides the horticulture marketing manager or small business owner with all they need to succeed in this critical aspect of business management.

Apply Now

Horticultural Resource Management By ACS Distance Education

This course will help you build the abilities that will help you stand out in the job. Learn how to create management strategies tailored to the needs of individual horticulture businesses.

Apply Now

Best Colleges for Horticulture Study

Here are some Best Colleges for Horticulture Study

Lowa State University

Six horticulture degree programs are available at Iowa State University. In a tiny town, it’s a vast public four-year institution. In 2019, 59 Horticulture students received their diplomas, with 41 receiving Bachelor’s degrees, 11 master’s degrees, and 7 receiving doctoral degrees.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Nine Horticulture degree programs are available at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. It’s a large, public four-year university in the heart of a large city. Horticulture students earned 23 Bachelor’s degrees, 14 Master’s degrees, 8 Associate’s degrees, and 8 Doctoral degrees in 2019.

Kansas State University

Six horticulture degree programs are available at Kansas State University. In a tiny town, it’s a vast public four-year institution. In 2019, 44 Horticulture students received their diplomas, with 33 receiving Bachelor’s degrees, nine master’s degrees, and two doctoral degrees.

Pennsylvania State University

Six Horticulture degree programs are available at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. In a tiny town, it’s a vast public four-year institution. In 2019, 49 Horticulture students received their diplomas, with 41 receiving Bachelor’s degrees, four master’s degrees, and four doctoral degrees.

Michigan State University

Michigan State University offers six horticulture degree programs, and it is a vast, public four-year university in a small community. Horticulture students earned 32 bachelor’s degrees, 20 certificates, four master’s degrees, and two doctoral degrees in 2019.

University of Georgia

Horticulture degree programs are available at the University of Georgia, and it’s a vast public four-year institution in a medium city. Students earned 18 Bachelor’s degrees, 6 Master’s degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees in Horticulture in 2019.

Washington State University

Horticulture is one of the eight-degree programs offered by Washington State University. It’s a vast, public four-year institution located in a distant town. 47 Horticulture students graduated in 2019 with 42 Bachelor’s degrees, 3 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master’s degrees.

University of Florida

There are four horticulture degree programs at the University of Florida, and it’s a vast, public four-year university in the middle of a medium city. Twenty Master’s degrees, sixteen Bachelor’s degrees, and six doctoral degrees were awarded to Horticulture students in 2019.

Purdue University

Purdue University’s Main Campus offers five-degree programs in Horticulture. In a tiny town, it’s a vast public four-year institution. In 2019, 24 Horticulture students received their diplomas, with 16 Bachelor’s degrees, 5 Master’s degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

University of Nebraska

Five horticulture degree programs are available at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It’s a massive, public four-year university in the middle of a big metropolis. In 2019, 35 Horticulture students graduated with 35 Bachelor’s degrees.

Conclusion

Horticulture provides many opportunities for people interested in gardening and agricultural science. Professionals in this sector have a broad and in-depth understanding of the subject. Horticulture contributes to our environment’s long-term sustainability and rehabilitation by adding beauty, greenery, and a higher quality of life to our lives.

Horticulture’s breadth is as wide as the industry’s and field’s various crops. Those who farm, landscape, garden, research, and supervise plant crops for nourishment, adornment, and health advantages are among the many people who work in this industry.

Horticulture is the field for you interested in the science and art of establishing and maintaining high-value crops and ornamental plants.