Horticulture

Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating cultivated plants for food, comfort, and beauty. It covers the production, improvement, and use of fruits, vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants, and medicinal species. Unlike broad field agriculture, which often emphasizes large-scale crop production, horticulture typically involves smaller plots, intensive management, and a focus on high-value crops, landscape use, and garden design.

Subfields: pomology, olericulture, floriculture, viticulture; landscape horticulture; nursery production; plant propagation; turfgrass management. Also related areas: horticultural therapy, urban agriculture, and container gardening.

Techniques: soil science; irrigation; fertilization; integrated pest management; pruning, grafting, budding; breeding; propagation; greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture; hydroponics.

Education and careers: degrees in horticulture, plant science, or agronomy; careers in research, extension services, nursery industry, landscaping, parks and recreation, and municipal agronomy. The field emphasizes sustainability, biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change.