Today, we will be talking about commercial horticulture. It is a part of farming that is overlooked and it is highly profitable as it often requires low capital and can be done as a side hustle.

As most people would think Horticulture is all about planting flowers alone to beatify our environment and there’s no much profit in the business, this article will give an explicit description or definition and the commercial aspect of horticulture rather than the lame man’s thoughts on the practice.
Firstly, as the common meaning given to the word “commercial” is known or described as that which is concerned with or engaged in commerce also can be called trade, sales, or merchandising as making or intended to make a profit (money – oriented).

Horticulture, an agricultural practice is the science and art of the development, sustainable production, marketing and use of high – value, intensively cultivated food and ornamental plants.
From the above defined term, it is said that horticulture involves the planting of food crops, fruits and other vegetables and not flowers only and that’s why we have decided to talk about how to do Commercial horticulture.
Commercial Horticulture: encompasses the production and management of ornamental plants and turfgrass (any of various grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass grown to form turf), as well as fruits and vegetables for profit.
Horticulture as contributed to the quality of life and the beauty, rehabilitation of our environment and human lives. There are diversities in Horticultural crops which includes: Landscape plants, fruits and vegetables, annual and perennial species and decorative indoor plants.
The Domains of Horticulture
Pomology: this deals with the planting, harvesting, storing, processing and marketing of fruits and nut crops. Fruit of both large and small sizes. Examples are Apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, oranges, blueberries etc. The importance of Pomology is improvement in fruits trees which includes fruit quality, regulation of production periods, and reduction in production cost.
Ornamental Horticulture: this is an aspect or area of horticulture an agricultural practice which is focused on domesticated plants and plant materials used for decorative and recreational applications and a program that teaches individuals or group of people to breed, grow, and utilize ornamental plant varieties for commercial and aesthetic (the appreciation of beauty OR a set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement )purposes.
Olericulture : this is a branch of horticulture that deals with the production, storage, processing, and marketing of vegetables. OR it is the science of vegetable growing with the culture of non – Woody plants for food (the production of plants for use of the edible parts). It is recommended that humans should consume 300 grams of vegetables per day for maintaining good health because they are the natural sources of vitamins and minerals, like calcium, phosphorus and iron, carbohydrates and proteins.
Olericulture, it may be grains as in maize cobs, peas, bulbs, corn, rhizomes, roots and tubers, leabes, pods, fruits or curds, mushroom etc.
Careers in Horticulture.
Landscape Designer: they are Agricultural (horticulture) artist that creates designs to achieve aesthetic objectives and its maintenance.
Horticultural Technician: they plant, nurture and maintain plants life used in variety of industries. Food, medicine, decorative, educational.
Nursery staff: they look and take proper care of growing plants in a nursery. Young plants in the nursery needs care, so nursery staff waters and ensure the appropriate soil is selected.
Pest management: the best way to take up a career in pest management is by gaining experience horticulture. An intense understanding of horticulture helps farm and garden owners to protect their Flora from pests.
A state regulation, agricultural processes and industry best practice is important for work in this field.
Writer: specialist horticulture writer writes for farm magazines, farm or garden websites, radio and television shows.
Horticultural inspector: An inspector assess food crops like fruits and vegetables for government and private companies and ensure yields been compliant with quality standards. They help to maintain a high level of produce in the food industry.
Business manager: A career in horticulture can be choosen for an entrepreneur. Based on choice, the sector of the industry you specialise include: open a nursery, start a landscaping business, set up a farm, run a consultancy film.
Benefits of Horticulture
Better physical health
Improved mental health
To get fresh fruits and vegetables
For beautification and decorations.

Factors affecting commercial horticulture
Lack of knowledge and experience on this aspect of agriculture.
Land or soil fertility.
Climate.
Pest and diseases.
Environment (availability of water).

In the terrain of how to do Commercial horticulture, you must understand business and Marketing. With this, you will scale fast and get profitable. So learning horticulture is not enough, you must think as a business man.

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