Plant Propagation for Gardeners

COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor: David King

Email: greenteach@gmail.com

Phone: >>redacted<<

There are no prerequisites for this course, although some knowledge of basic botany would be extremely helpful. We meet on Sundays from January 10 through March 07 for 10 meetings. There is only one Saturday field trips, unless a miracle occurs. We will have a guest speaker from the Huntington if her schedule can allow her.

In the one scheduled ‘field trip’ we will all attend the WLA chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers meeting on February 13^th, from 10:00 to noon. This is the day of their annual ‘Scion Exchange’ and is not to be missed if you can help it. There is no other forum in Los Angeles that offers a better introduction to grafting!

All other meetings are field trips on Sunday 1:30 to 4:30 PM to The Learning Garden, at the Venice High School campus. This site is close to the ocean and because we meet outside, please dress appropriate to the weather, which is invariably colder than one would imagine. We will do what we can to mitigate the cold and rain, should it come, but the material of the class is best covered with live plant material in the garden – which, of course, is outside.

We will also be working with potting soils and cut plant material in almost every single class. Dress so that you can comfortably get dirty and still stay dry. Dressing in layers is probably the best idea when it comes to being outdoors at The Learning Garden.

Course Purpose

This course is an introduction to the principles and practice of plant propagation, both sexual and asexual, and the science and art of grafting and budding.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the care and safe use of tools in plant propagation.
   
2. Understand the biology of sexual and asexual propagation of plants.
   
3. Understand and use the different styles of propagation of plants.
   
4. Be able to set up and use a plant propagation system.
   
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the above by propagating different species of plants.
   
6. Understand the physiology of plants sufficiently to be able to successfully bud and graft a variety of plants.
   
   
   

Application

The materials presented in this course will enable the student to start plants from seeds and cuttings, in an amateur or professional setting and graft plants with a working understanding of botany.

Text for this course

Plant Propagation A to Z – Bryant; Firefly Books, 2003 It is readily available online or in the appropriate UCLA Bookstore. There will be many additional handouts from the instructor.

The Grafter's Handbook – Garner; Cassell Publishing 2003 This is a reissue of a classic first commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society. This is a recommended text (not required) but a serious student will find this an oft-referenced text with a wealth of information.

All material for in class will be available online at http://lagardennotes.blogspot.com/. I will try to not have handouts in class to avoid wasting paper printing out handouts you may not care to keep and using the internet allows us to use videos (especially of grafting) from other sites you may find helpful.

Class Meetings

To each class, in addition to any note-taking tools you deem necessary (paper, camera, tape recorder etc), each student should bring propagation tools that will be described in our first class meeting. You will need pruners, a grafting knife, a regular pocket knife (or one knife with two blades for different purposes), a black, permanent Sharpie, a sharp pencil and a sturdy pair of gloves – leather preferred.

Exam

Your grade in this class is based on a checklist you will keep. You need to be able to perform each of the tasks on the log with sufficient skill and understanding of the process in order to receive a passing grade in this course. The completed checklist must be turned in the last day of class unless other arrangements have been made before hand with the instructor.

Instructor’s Office Hours

Please avail yourself of my willingness to meet with you at any time to discuss your progress in the course or to clarify instructional material or to answer any difficulties you are having. My preference is to meet with you at my office at The Learning Garden where we can cover material without distraction but I am willing to meet with students anytime, anywhere to assist you in learning; after all, that is the point your taking the class and my teaching it. It is my wish that all students learn and are profited by their enrollment in this course. Do not struggle; I am here to help.

At The Learning Garden:

 THE FIRST AID KIT IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE refrigerator in my office

Remember its location.

I’m very serious... So far only one student has had to have emergency medical treatment. Two others lived after we stopped the bleeding. These are very SHARP knifes.

A garden is filled with uneven surfaces, rocks, plants with thorns and other armaments and an infinity of possibilities for injury; most of the time in this course we will be using very sharp tools which deserve your utmost attention at all times, please give due attention and consideration of this. Remain on pathways and do not walk into planted beds unless it is absolutely necessary. Do not pick anything without permission – it’s common courtesy.

A garden and the plants do not talk; I feel responsible as their spokesperson and take that responsibility seriously. You may not abuse my plants.

Food and drink are allowed, but the removal of any trash or waste is entirely incumbent on the eator and/or drinkor.

We will probably have hot tea and coffee to mitigate the cool weather we anticipate needing to endure. Bring your own cup or mug and any eating utensils you feel you need.

Appropriate clothing is essential. Remember, Venice can be hot and cold by turns. Layering is suggested; a jacket or sweater close at hand is essential. We will meet regardless of weather. If it is a light rain/mist, we will continue work. If it is a gully-washer (as though we get those in Southern California), we will meet in a classroom or the greenhouse and carry on.

Point Assignment

For Credit Students. It is more important to me that you learn the material above all other considerations. I will endeavor through point assignment, lecture and demonstration to teach you in a way that will facilitate learning the material. If you aren’t understanding, please allow me to help you.

Checklist	75%
Class Participation	25%
TOTAL	100.00%

Tools You Will Need

Each student shall provide:

Pair of pruners – secateur type, like Felco #2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 or 13. No anvil pruners allowed EXCEPT for those students with hand pain or arthritis that must use the ratcheting type of pruners. Felcos, especially the number 5, can be bought on the internet (eBay) for much less than locally. Coronas are ok. If you have ever used Felcos, you will be able to appreciate why I am so in favor of them.

Pruning knife – only used for plants. It is suggested that everyone also have a second knife for all the other needs in a garden. If one does not plan on doing a great deal of propagation needing a sharp knife, an inexpensive knife with break-away blades may be used. Grafting knives and horticultural knives are also found for reasonable amounts on eBay and other internet connections.

Pair of gloves – leather is preferred.

Sharpie – fine point, only black will not wash off

Pencil – sharp, wooden (the Learning Garden does have a sharpener)

You will need to take notes, so paper is necessary – may I suggest you take notes in pencil because it won’t run if it gets wet and a pencil is a wonderful small dibber in a pinch. 

The Garden (or instructor) will provide:

Cactus mix and potting soil to be used as needed

Watering devices

Pots

Root stimulating gel

Other tools and supplies as needed

Oil, sharpening devices, cleaners and rags for pruner and knife maintenance

Alcohol wipes and hand soap.

Plant material/seeds

First aid kit

Plant markers

If you forget your pruners or knife, I do have a few of each, and while I do have gloves, a pair that fits your hand is preferred (and a pair of gloves are somewhat personal too). I can sharpen your pruners and teach you how.

Date	Mtg.	TOPIC
01/10	1	Lecture: Introduction – roll, Extension policy, meeting time and place, attendance and tardiness, tools etc. Tool selection and care. Sexual and asexual propagation defined. Introduction to the different forms of propagation. Botany as applied to propagation. Planting mediums. Demonstration: Working environment; Safety and tool use Practical: Planting medium mixes and mixing.
01/17	2	Lecture: Seeds, structure, germination and viability, collection, storage. Propagation, pages 47-74; seed starting problems and their solution. Demonstration: Scarification/Seed sowing Practical: Sowing seeds of different sizes
01/24	3	Lecture: General Propagation Methods and Application; Pages 47-113; pests and diseases and methodology to deal with them. Demonstration: Division of perennials Practical: Dividing perennial plants
01/31	4	Lecture: Meristematic tissue and the principles of propagation by cuttings; Return to pages 92-113 Demonstration: Different kinds of cuttings Practical: Making cuttings
02/07	5	Lecture: Grafting and Budding Demonstration: Saddle graft Practical: Grafting and budding
02/13	6	Field Trip to California Rare Fruit Growers
02/14	7	Lecture: Grafting and other propagation techniques, Pages 75-91 and 114-123 Demonstration: Grafting a fruit tree Practical: Graft a fruit tree
02/21	8	Lecture: Some of the odd-ducks of the propagation manual Demonstration: Leaf propagation Practical: Propagating something unusual.
02/28	9	Lecture: More difficult propagation Demonstration: Fire scarification of a California native Practical: Transplanting of seedlings
03/07	10	Lecture: Covering all things left uncovered. Demonstration: As dictated by circumstances. Practical: Work on your checklist.(Student evaluation of instructor…) FINISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR CREDIT STUDENTS

Our Class Meeting Locations

The Learning Garden

13000 Venice Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90066

310.722.3656 (my cell)

The Garden is located on the south east corner of Walgrove Avenue and Venice Blvd. It is the first gate on Walgrove south of Venice – there is a small amount of parking inside the gate, there is no other secured parking, other than those few spaces, you are on your own.

California Rare Fruit Growers, West Los Angeles Chapter

Scion Exchange meeting on Feb. 14, 9:00 AM,

Ken Edwards Community Center

1527 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA, 90404

310.458.8300