Green thumbs can spruce up skills in spare time

CDU is offering a range of nationally accredited course units after-hours for interested “green thumbs”.

The Horticulture team, based at Casuarina campus, has expanded the stand-alone units offered and made the evening and weekend classes a permanent fixture. Successfully completed units can be credited towards a Certificate II in Horticulture.

Horticulture Lecturer Robyn Wing said units catered to people who were keen to learn more about gardening in their spare time.

“Edible vertical gardens are proving popular worldwide. A variety of edibles such as mint, thyme, parsley, coriander and kale were planted by the class in the vertical garden as part of their learning,” she said.

“Participants learn to germinate seeds used in vertical gardens, test the Ph of potting mixes, and how to meet the plants’ needs for moisture, light and watering.”

Ms Wing said many herbs had differing moisture and light requirements.

“Thyme and sage are grown in the upper positions as they need more sun and less water; whereas lower is better for mint as it prefers more water and shade.”

Ms Wing said pruning, soil testing, installation of irrigation systems, and treatment of pests, plant diseases and weeds were being be offered as units durings evenings and weekends.

For more information T: 08 8946 7513, E: horticulture@cdu.edu.au, W: cdu.edu.au/cdu-vet/primary-industries/horticulture-aquaculture-topend