Vegetable Crop Production and Management
Learn about vegetable production—from anywhere.
The Vegetable Production and Management course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University provides a learning opportunity for those seeking continuing education at any level, novice or professional. As a non-credit offering, this course does not require enrollment at Iowa State University. Scholarships are available through a SARE Professional Development Grant to cover course fee. Contact Dr. Ajay Nair to sign up for the scholarship.
You will learn about the principles of vegetable production with an emphasis on sustainable production practices, market outlets, business aspects, and risk management. Topics will include crop classification and rotation; planting methods; crop climatic conditions; physiological growth & development; soil, water, and pest management; cover cropping; season extension strategies; harvest and postharvest management and marketing. For online and non-credit students, key highlights and summary of the field activities will be provided by the instructor.
Learning Outcomes
Assessments
Course Outline
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Successfully grow vegetables commercially
- Describe the climate and soil requirements needed for raising high quality vegetable crops
- Learn about production aspects such as soil fertility, irrigation, pest management, harvest and post-harvest, and marketing
- Define specific growth processes of each crop studied that leads to a harvestable product
- Analyze and interpret data through greenhouse and lab experimentations
Participants taking the non-credit course are not required to take any exams or submit any assignments, however, if you want to challenge yourself and see how much you have learned, please feel free to take the exams, tests, and assignments.
- Introduction to Vegetable Crops – Vegetable Classification
- Vegetable Production and Management
- Soil Management
- Tillage, Cover Cropping, Weed Management
- Crop Rotation
- Vegetable Insect Pests and Diseases
- Irrigation Practices and Techniques
Registration Cost: $300.00 USD
Course Hours: TBD hours
Course Start Date: January 2026
Course Access Time: TBD
Instructor
Ajay Nair
Associate Professor
Department of Horticulture
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University, 2011
Master of Science, University of Maine, 2006
Bachelor of Science, Kerala Agricultural University, India, 2002
Learn more about this instructor
