University of Florida Offers Online Course for Growing Hydroponic Vegetables
September 27, 2024 From October 21 to November 15, 2024, University of Florida (UF) will offer an online course for growing hydroponic vegetables. This introductory course will teach you about the fundamentals of climate, water, nutrition, and plant health in hydroponic environments as well as how to manage different hydroponic systems.
Eight topics will be covered in the course, ranging from business management to growing specific types of crops hydroponically. These include:
- Hydroponic growing systems and structures
- Environment (light, temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂)
- Plant health
- Water and nutrients
- Lettuce and leafy greens
- Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers
- Microgreens and indoor protection under LEDs
- Business management and food safety
An experienced team of instructors from UF and Cornell University will teach the course.
Instructors from the University of Florida
- Paul Fisher, Ph.D.
- Wanda Laughlin
- Celina Gomez, Ph.D.
- Dan Fenneman
Instructors from Cornell University
- Neil Mattson, Ph.D.
- Jonathan Allred
It’s not recommended that homeowners and hobbyists take this course, as it was specifically designed for industry employees in technical, production, and sales roles.
Greenhouse Training Online Series
This course is a part of UF’s Greenhouse Training Online series. Previous courses include Greenhouse 101, Nutrient Management, and Field Diagnosis of Plant Diseases. Upcoming courses include Weed Management, Success With Your Latino Workforce, and Practical Disease Management. You can earn your Plant Professional Health Certificate by completing a combination of select courses.
It’s important to note these courses are designed for people who are already working in the horticulture industry. Each class is online, has pre-recorded videos and offers interactive discussions as well as quizzes. You can attend these sessions at any time of day, and new modules will be available each week as you advance in the course.
The upfront cost to register for each course is $275 per person, but you can get 20% off if you enroll five people or more at one time. Once you’ve registered, you can access the course on your computer, cell phone, tablet, or other mobile device during course dates. Click here for more information and to register.