Chargé d’enseignement, Directeur adjoint, Conseiller pédagogique
T : 514-398-7868| david.wees [at] mcgill.ca (Courriel) | Harrison House 2-04
David Wees specializes in horticulture. He also teaches in the Department of Plant Science.
Degrees
BSc (Agr), MSc (McGill)
Active Affiliations
Awards and Recognition
CADAP Teaching Award (2023), awarded annually by the
Outreach Activities
“McGill feeding McGill” was started in 2009 to supply McGill’s cafeterias with fresh fruits and vegetables grown at the Horticultural Research Centre located at Macdonald Campus. Other outreach activities funded by McGill’s Sustainability Projects Fund include Macdonald Campus Orchard, and Macdonald Campus Tree Planting Initiative.
Courses
FMT4 005
Introduction to Plant Science
2.33 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Farm Management Technology V.4: Basic concepts of plant anatomy, morphology, classification and physiology are used to solve practical problems in crop production. Identification and classification of plants, including crops and weeds. Growth stages of plants, from seed through vegetative growth and flowering to harvest. Study of the physiological functions of plants including mineral nutrition, water relations, photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction, tropisms and effects of climate. Identification of main types of crop pests. Relationships between the physiology of plants and farming practices.
Offered by: Farm Mgmt & Technology Program
FMT4 033
Vegetable and Fruit Crops
2.67 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Farm Management Technology V.4: Planning, planting, growth, harvest and storage of various field-grown vegetables and fruits. Vegetables (cultivar selection, production methods, crop rotation, physiology, pests and diseases, etc.): tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, onions, carrots, sweet corn, potatoes and other vegetables and herbs. Fruits (site selection, cultivar selection, production methods, physiology, pests and diseases, etc.): apples, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes and other fruits. Both organic and conventional farming methods are emphasized.
Offered by: Farm Mgmt & Technology Program
FMT4 034
Greenhouse Crop Production
2.67 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Farm Management Technology V.4: Planning, planting, growth, harvest and storage of various greenhouse flowers and vegetables. Greenhouse structures, control of the greenhouse environment (heating, cooling, lighting, humidity), hydroponics, substrates, fertilization, irrigation, pest and disease management. Production methods of greenhouse flowers (potted flowers, cut flowers, bedding plants) and greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, etc.). Both organic and conventional farming methods are emphasized.
Offered by: Farm Mgmt & Technology Program
FMT4 037
Ind. Study in Crop Production
2.67 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Farm Management Technology V.4: 1 hour meetings & 7 hours independent work per week. Pre-requisites: FMT4-005 and FMT4-009 as well as at least one crop production course (FMT4-033, FMT4-034, FMT4-035 or FMT4-036); students must also have a minimum cumulative weighted average of 80%. This course covers crops or groups of crops not covered in other crop production courses and requires independent study; the actual study plan will be determined case-by-case. Topics include planning, production methods, planting, growth, harvest and storage of crops, control of pests and diseases. May also include site selection, cultivar selection, crop rotation, physiology, etc. Registration in the course is subject to approval by the Academic Advisor.
Offered by: Farm Mgmt & Technology Program
FMTP 097
Landscape Design
2 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Farm Management Technology: Landscape Design is a complementary course intended to broaden your education. The students will learn how to produce an artistic creation, in this case a landscape design, using the basic elements (lines, forms, colours and textures), symbols and techniques of landscape design; you will take into consideration both the aesthetics and the functions of landscapes as well as landscape styles (rural vs. urban, formal vs. informal, etc.). The students will learn to analyze an existing landscape as well as incorporate new design elements including plants (trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers) and inert materials (walls, fences, paths, buildings, etc.).
Offered by: Farm Mgmt & Technology Program
Publications
D. Wees. 2024. The greenhouse handbook, 9th edition. 348 pages. Macdonald Campus of McGill University.
D. Wees. 2023. Cultivars de framboisiers: lesquels choisir? Agri-Réseau.
D. Wees. 2023. Hardy fruit handbook, 10th edition. 440 pages. Macdonald Campus of McGill University.
D. Wees. 2023. Urban horticulture handbook, 3rd edition. 110 pages. Macdonald Campus of McGill University.
D. Wees. 2021. Liste de cultivars de poivrons de serre. Agri-Réseau.
D. Wees. 2021. Fiche de production de pak-choy en serre. Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), 10 pages,
D. Wees. 2020. Guide de production en serres: fines herbes, 2nd ed. CRAAQ. ( ), 118 pages
D. Wees. 2018. Guide de production : patate douce. Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), 54 pages,
D. Wees. 2017. L’agriculture urbaine : un chantier pour professionnels. . Also published in English by Agrologists Canada Urban agriculture: a growing field for professionals.
D. Wees, Seguin, P. and Boisclair, J. 2016. Sweet potato production in a short-season area utilizing black plastic mulch: effects of cultivar, in-row plant spacing, and harvest date on yield parameters. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 96: 139-147.
D. Wees, Seguin, P., Boisclair, J. and Gendre, C. 2015. Performance and quality of sweetpotato cultivars grown in Quebec, Canada with biodegradable plastic mulch. HortTechnology 25(6): 815-823.
D. Wees. 2015. Carences minérales des fines herbes : identification, prévention et solutions. Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), 43 pages.