A Horticultural Technician is someone who specialises in a specific area of horticulture, such as quality assurance, irrigation, spraying, glasshouses, soil or is part of a team working in laboratories.
Some of the things a Horticultural Technician could do:
- Diagnose and deal with enquiries about plant disease
- Check that produce meets required standards
- Manage irrigation systems
- Manage environmental controls within a production environment.
Working Conditions
Working hours will vary according to the exact nature of the job. You may be called on at all hours to find solutions to problems with technical systems, so flexibility is key. A driving licence is often required to travel between different places of work.
Inspecting and testing produce Identifying problems and finding solutions Comparing with requirements Checking measuring and testing equipment and plant quality Making decisions on quality Keeping records of results.
Salary
Salaries vary with experience, qualifications and between companies, but here's a guide to what you can expect.
£16,000
£30,000
Getting started
For most horticultural technicians you will have specialised in a certain area which interests you, for example quality assurance, irrigation, agronomy or seed science.
What experienced workers can do
- Skills will vary according to the specialist area of work.
Personal qualities you should have
- Knowledge of science and plants
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- A methodical approach
- Patience, perseverance and good concentration
- Work well in a team and on own initiative
- Flexibility.
Next steps
Horticultural Technicians can progress to more senior positions within the organisation such as lead technician, or they can specialise in jobs like botanist, plant pathologist or agronomist.
Useful links
British Association of Landscape Industries
British International Golf Greenkeepers Association
Greenkeepers Training Committee