puutarhataloutta

Puutarhataloutta is the partitive form of the Finnish noun puutarhatalous, which designates horticulture, the branch of agricultural science dealing with the cultivation, production, and management of plants for food, ornament and landscape use. It encompasses plant propagation, nursery production, field and greenhouse cultivation, floriculture, and fruit and vegetable production, as well as the production of ornamental plants. Horticultural activities take place on farms, in greenhouses, nurseries, and urban landscapes, with emphasis on soil health, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control, and post-harvest handling.

Subfields include market-oriented production (nursery stock, floriculture, fruit and vegetables), greenhouse technology, landscape horticulture, plant breeding and genetics, plant protection, soil and water management, and marketing and distribution of horticultural products.

In Finland and other Nordic contexts, puutarhataloutta is studied within agricultural sciences and applied sciences; programs train agronomists, horticulture technicians, and researchers. Research topics include sustainable production systems, climate adaptation, integrated pest management, resource efficiency, and value-chain development in horticulture.

The field underpins food supply and rural economies, urban green infrastructure, and the ornamental plant industry. It adapts to contemporary trends such as local and seasonal production, organic and sustainable practices, digital farming and automation, protected cultivation, and principles of circular economy and sustainability.