Horticulture: Principles and Practices

The practice of horticulture can be retraced. It dates back to the times of Cyrus, the Great of ancient Persia, and has been going on ever since, with present-day horticulturists such as Freeman S. Howlett and Luther Burbank. The practice of horticulture can be retraced for many thousands of years. Horticulture is the science and art of producing, improving, marketing, and using fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. It differs from botany and other plant sciences in that horticulture incorporates both science and aesthetics. Production and consumption of high quality fruits and vegetables allows us to maintain a healthy, balanced daily diet. Flowers and ornamental plants enrich our homes and communities, and contribute to our sense of well-being. Horticulture impacts our lives on a daily basis by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables, offering visual enjoyment, and promoting recreational activities. Horticulture forms an integral and important component in the economy of a nation. Horticultural crops constitute a significant segment of the total agricultural production of a country. The importance of horticulture can be substantiated by its benefits like high export value, high per unit area yield, high returns per unit area, best utilization of wasteland, provision of raw materials for industries, whole engagement by a grower/laborer, production of more food energy per unit area than that of field crops, better use of undulating lands, and stabilization of women’s empowerment by providing employment opportunities through processing, floriculture, seed production, mushroom cultivation, nursery preparation, etc. In addition, fruits and vegetables constitute the important energy-giving material to the human body. It also improves the economic condition of many farmers, and it has become a means of improving livelihood for many unprivileged classes too. Flower harvesting, nursery maintenance, hybrid seed production and tissue culture, propagation of fruits and flowers, and food processing are highly remunerative employment options for women in rural areas. It has also been common throughout history for people to raise fruits and vegetables in small gardens to supplement their diets. A “green revolution” took place in the 1960s and 1970s, and the interest in horticulture grew. Today, horticulture is popular and important in all societies, both rich and poor. The popularity of horticulture is due to a number of factors. The horticulture industry provides economic value to local communities and to the country. A healthy industry creates job opportunities. Horticultural practices provide high-quality food for people. It also offers offers an increase in aesthetic pleasure that supports psychological well-being. This book offers the comprehensive accessible information available on indoor and outdoor gardening.