Overview

The NPA in Horticulture at SCQF level 4 has been designed to give you the skills required to carry out a range of basic gardening tasks. You will have the opportunity to grow a range of fruit and vegetables and to produce plants from seeds and cuttings. There will also be opportunities for you to develop your knowledge and skills of other areas such as soft landscaping, plant health, plant identification or organic gardening. 

Mandatory Units

Allotment Gardening 

This Unit is designed to develop skills in growing a range of fruit and vegetables from planting to harvest in an allotment garden. Candidates will select, plant out and care for a range of fruit and vegetables.  

Plant Propagation

This Unit introduces candidates to methods commonly used to propagate plants. Candidates will develop knowledge of the advantages and limitations of a range of propagation methods and the most appropriate propagation method to use for a selected plant in order to produce a crop of plants. Candidates will also gain practical experience of the propagation methods. 

Optional units - one required

Your teacher may choose a unit based on the availability of resources but there would be discussion with the student cohort as to the unit undertaken

Soft Landscaping 

This Unit is designed to develop the candidate skills in soft landscaping. Candidates will select tools and equipment, plant out and care for a range of plants. 

Soft Landscaping: Introduction to Plant Groups, Selection and Use 

The Unit is designed to enable candidates with limited or no previous experience to develop their skills and knowledge in soft landscaping. It introduces and develops the knowledge and practical skills to name plants, plant groups and their uses. It also enables candidates to plan, create and maintain a soft landscape feature. 

Horticultural Composting 

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to develop introductory skills and knowledge in the production of compost. Candidates will be introduced to the basics of composting; this includes the siting and construction of compost bins, the selection of suitable waste to add, its’ mixing and ultimately the use of the compost produced. The candidate will also learn why composting is such an environmentally beneficial activity to undertake. 

Plant Identification 

This Unit will introduce candidates with little or no experience to plant identification and the binomial plant name system. Candidates will be introduced to plants keys, learn local common names for plants and understand the limits of using this type of name. 

Plant Health 

This Unit is designed to introduce candidates to some of the key plant health issues in horticulture. Candidates will study a range of weeds and common garden invertebrates and identify some plant diseases. Candidates will also assist in general plant health procedures such as weeding, companion planting, feeding, mulching, watering and picking off pests. 

Organic Gardening: Edible Crops 

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to develop basic skills and knowledge required to grow an edible organic crop. Candidates will develop an understanding of the principles of organic gardening while planning, producing and maintaining an organic crop.