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⇱ A Guide to Garden Plants | Coursera


A Guide to Garden Plants

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A Guide to Garden Plants

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Select appropriate plant species and cultivars for different seasons and climates

  • Determine proper plant placement, timing, and care for healthy growth and productivity

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Recently updated!

June 2026

Assessments

11 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Introduction to Ecological Gardening Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This course helps learners build stronger gardening skills by understanding how different species of garden plants grow, function, and interact with their environment. The course emphasizes practical knowledge that supports confident decision-making in real garden settings.

Through a mix of videos, readings, images, and interactive activities, you’ll explore three core areas: cool-season crops, warm-season crops, and fruits suited to temperate climates. You’ll learn how to select appropriate species and cultivars, determine optimal placement in the garden, and support healthy growth from planting through harvest. The course also introduces basic pest awareness and seasonal planning for improved productivity. While developed for northern climates with shorter growing seasons, the principles taught apply broadly. Learners in other regions can adapt plant choices and timing to fit their local conditions. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation for planning and managing a productive, resilient garden.

This module focuses on cool-season vegetables and herbs commonly grown in temperate gardens. These plants are cold tolerant, quick to mature, and well-suited to cooler weather, making them ideal for early or late-season harvests. You’ll learn what makes cool-season crops successful, how to choose species and cultivars that fit different garden conditions, and how to plan their placement within a broader garden design. The module also introduces the basics of starting, maintaining, and monitoring these plants throughout the growing season. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how cool-season vegetables and herbs can bring early and late season productivity, variety, and interest to a temperate garden.

What's included

2 videos13 readings3 assignments

2 videosTotal 6 minutes
  • Course introduction4 minutes
  • Intro to cool season plants2 minutes
13 readingsTotal 182 minutes
  • About this course5 minutes
  • About the assignments2 minutes
  • About cool season plants15 minutes
  • Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth family20 minutes
  • Amaryllidaceae: The amaryllis family20 minutes
  • Apiaceae: The carrot family20 minutes
  • Asparagaceae: The asparagus family15 minutes
  • Asteraceae: The daisy family15 minutes
  • Brassicaceae: The mustard family20 minutes
  • Fabaceae: The legume family10 minutes
  • Polygonaceae: The buckwheat family10 minutes
  • Planning for cool season plants10 minutes
  • Planting and establishing cool season plants20 minutes
3 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes
  • Quick check: Cool season plant species15 minutes
  • Quick check: Growing cool season plants15 minutes
  • Module quiz: Cool season plants30 minutes

This module focuses on warm-season vegetables and herbs—tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, basil, and other summer favorites. You’ll learn what these plants need to grow well, how to choose the right varieties, and how to plan and care for them to get the best results. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how the right choices and care can bring a summer garden to life with color, flavor, and abundance.

What's included

1 video11 readings4 assignments

1 videoTotal 2 minutes
  • Intro to warm season plants2 minutes
11 readingsTotal 165 minutes
  • About warm season plants15 minutes
  • Asteraceae: The daisy family15 minutes
  • Convolvulaceae: The morning glory family10 minutes
  • Cucurbitaceae: The gourd family20 minutes
  • Fabaceae: The legume family10 minutes
  • Lamiaceae: The mint family15 minutes
  • Malvaceae: The mallow family10 minutes
  • Poaceae: The grass family10 minutes
  • Solanaceae: The nightshade family20 minutes
  • Planning for warm season plants20 minutes
  • Planting and establishing warm season plants20 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 130 minutes
  • Quick check: Warm season plant species30 minutes
  • Quick check: Growing warm season plants30 minutes
  • Learning activity: Seed starting calculators40 minutes
  • Module quiz: Warm season plants30 minutes

This module introduces fruit crops—some of the most rewarding and long-lasting plants you can grow. You’ll start with berries, then move on to vines and tree fruits, learning how to choose species and varieties suited to your climate and growing conditions. You’ll also explore what it takes to establish and care for these perennial plants so they thrive for years to come. By the end of this module, you’ll see how growing fruit can be both achievable and deeply rewarding, offering beauty and harvests that last season after season.

What's included

2 videos17 readings4 assignments

2 videosTotal 10 minutes
  • Intro to growing fruit 8 minutes
  • Intro to growing fruit trees2 minutes
17 readingsTotal 235 minutes
  • Getting to know fruit plants15 minutes
  • Growing fruit in the garden10 minutes
  • Intro to growing berries15 minutes
  • Growing blueberries15 minutes
  • Growing currants and gooseberries10 minutes
  • Growing grapes15 minutes
  • Growing kiwiberries20 minutes
  • Growing raspberries20 minutes
  • Growing strawberries15 minutes
  • Growing fruit trees at home15 minutes
  • Apples15 minutes
  • Pears15 minutes
  • Stone fruits: Apricot15 minutes
  • Stone fruits: Cherries (tart/pie/sour)15 minutes
  • Stone fruits: Plums10 minutes
  • Stone fruits: Peaches10 minutes
  • Course recap5 minutes
4 assignmentsTotal 135 minutes
  • Quick check: Intro to growing fruit in temperate gardens30 minutes
  • Quick check: Fruit Review30 minutes
  • Learning activity: Growing fruit in Northern climates45 minutes
  • Module quiz: Fruits for the temperate garden30 minutes

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Instructor

University of Minnesota
4 Courses209 learners

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