How I Started Vegetable Growing and the RHS Level 2 in Horticulture

Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

As I get ready to take the final part of my RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture exam on Wednesday 23rd June, I’m taking some time off my revising to reflect on how the RHS has inspired, advised and taught me how to grow plants and vegetables.

Three years ago when I started growing vegetables for the first time, was around the same time the RHS launched their grow your own veg campaign by growing in raised beds. I remember I downloaded their 3×3 raised bed plans excited to be planning my own vegetable garden for the first time. Although I eventually adapted their plans to suit my own sized raised beds, I was glad to have the inspiration that spurned me on to my adventures as a vegetable gardener. See my 1st Vegetable Plot Plan here.

I also remember my first vegetable growing book was Grow Your Own Veg (RHS) by Carol Klein and Vegetable and Herb Expert by Dr Hessayon both which helped me greatly as a beginner as to what type of vegetables to grow and when. I cannot recommend these books enough as I still own and read them today and they are great to refer to every now and then.

My 1st Veg Growing Books

If you haven’t browsed the Grow Your Own Veg section of the RHS website, it is packed with expert advice, inspiration, veg planner, container vegetables, jobs to do and Veg A-Z, it is well worth a visit.

Of course if you are like me, wanting to become an expert in gardening and growing plants, the RHS have a national recognised awarding body who offer certificate of horticulture courses in ranges of difficulty.

These can be taken by studying at home in your spare time or at evening classes at colleges around the UK. If you do the course as distance learning you will need to check the location and ring your nearest college to check that they will take external candidates so you can sit your exams. RHS has a list of these colleges here.

Two years ago I started at the entry level with RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture by distance learning and next week I am about to take the final exam of this fairly difficult but extremely worthwhile course.

Pages From RHS Course

The topics on the syllabus include:

Plant biology (very interesting but I found this difficult) although my bible ‘Botany for Gardeners’ by Brian Capon helped me with a plain english guide to plant biology,
Propagation including grafting, cuttings, budding techniques,
Outdoor food crops (obviously my favourite section),
Garden design and planning,
Soil and plant nutrition (another of my favourites),
Protected environments like greenhouse, polytunnels,
Plant selection and ornamental plants – need to remember those latin names!
Pest, disease and weed control (very useful for the vegetable garden).

Starting in September 2010 the RHS will be changing the Horticulture Courses and introducing practical awards as well as theory based courses. For more information on RHS Courses please click here.

My First Vegetable Plot Links: