To achieve a B.E.S.T. Certificate in Organic Horticulture you must successfully complete a minimum of eight modules.

Compulsory units are:

• Principles which underpin sustainable horticulture practices
• Planning an organic garden
• Managing soil, growing media and maintaining fertility

and you can choose any five others to complete your Certificate.

• Understanding the properties of soil and importance of soil biology
• Importance of habitat provision and biodiversity
• Planning year round organic vegetable growing
• Vegetable growing methods, harvesting, storage and seed saving
• Growing annuals, biennials and herbaceous perennials sustainably
• Selecting, planting and maintaining trees and shrubs sustainably
• Selecting and maintaining lawns and wildlife friendly alternatives
• Prevention, identification and organic control of garden pests, diseases and disorders
• Prevention, identification and organic control of garden weeds

There is NO EXTRA CHARGE  if you want to study more than eight.

Click here to download the full Guide for the Qualification.

Download Guide for the Distance Learning option here.

Delivery  is online,  assessment is of coursework which you upload for your tutor's comments and by multiple choice questions online. 

There is a dedicated online space (a ‘virtual classroom’) for each unit, which you share with other students on your course.  You can download all your notes and presentations to read on or offline, contact the course tutor by internal messaging for feedback and support, and get in touch with other students. 

You upload your completed coursework for each unit and receive detailed feedback and comments from your tutor. In addition there is an online multiple choice test to confirm your understanding at the end of each unit.

Click here to enter the teaching website and see some examples of course materials in a sample online classroom.

If you would prefer to study from printed course notes, click on the'Correspondence' course tab below for details of this option.

At the end of the course we will issue a BEST in Horticulture Certificate of Achievement which lists the modules you have successfully completed.

Delivery, tutor support, online testing and assessment of the portfolio of evidence: £625

This is also payable in two instalments of £317.50, total payable  £635(to include an administration fee of £5)

Study at home, or whenever and wherever it suits you. You can download most of the course materials, print them out if you prefer, or take them with you on a tablet on your daily commute.

You can enrol and buy the course on the website using PayPal.

For online courses, your username and password will be emailed to you within three working days.

We use the information you give us on PayPal to set up your enrolment  - if you buy a course for someone else, or your PayPal uses an old email address, please contact us.  

You have access to your online classroom and tutor support for two years.

If you want to develop your general horticultural knowledge, you can study an RHS qualification - an RHS Level 2 qualification is well respected in the horticultural industry and can be the first step in changing to a career in horticulture. It is an accepted route into the horticultural profession for National Trust and many other employers.

We also offer you the opportunity to pursue an interest in a garden design with our Practical Garden Design Course. Click on the tab below for more details.