The chemical testing station did not have a specific department for plant production. However, the production of some cultures (sunflower, alfalfa, grain) was developed and there was no way that the work on developing that production could be avoided. The testings were limited to confirming suitable assortments, the style of nurturing and the determining of most suitable combinations of fertilizer for its application.

With the opening of the agricultural study in 1905 inside the existing Institute, vegetable growing is treated as a special subjects so that applicants could become familiar with the achievements in the vegetable production. Beside the lectures was put in a practicum from that field and by 1906 were raised the first hot beds. The hot beds were made of concrete with steel frames, which at the time was the most contemporary solution. In those conditions were tested new sorts and types of different vegetables, while concerning the ecological factors the attention was on early maturation. Beside the testings the school, in the framework of the Institute, was active in developing vegetable production so that new sorts and new types could be introduced. Given were directions on protection of cultures from the plant diseases and pests. The work was widespread.

In 1925, in the framework of the Agricultural observation and control station was formed an Agro-botanical department. The task of the Department was the control of imported seed in the internal trafficking. Also were tested different grains, early potatoes and other vegetable cultures. From 1935 an intensive and systematic work started on the development of different vegetable cultures. Confirmed were the most suitable sorts for the early production (tomato, zucchini, string beans, common beans, etc) and for the winter production (cabbage, cauliflower). Grain still held an important place because their production was still widespread. We have to mention that in that period up to the II world war the problems of vegetable growing were worked on by only one expert, so it is understandable why the work was not momentous and the results were not larger.

From 1945 the work spread to other cultures, the ones already mentioned and the ones desirable because of the needs of the times. Organized were tests along the entire coast and the interior of the country. A number of tests wereperformed with the growing of cotton, wheat, corn, and sorghum. Significant results were achieved. Continued was work on selection and introduction of best sorts for summer-spring production with the goal of early maturation, high fertility and quality. These attributes were desired for the fall-winter production as well. The work with tomatoes, endive lettuce (Cichorium), lettuce (Lactuc), the crystalline winter and summer types, Swiss chard, cabbage, and cauliflower. The work on some vegetable cultures is very significant. From the domesticated seed material of the lettuce KOPICA, after years long work, was selected the seed with best traits keeping in mind the conditions of regions and their needs. Selected was the seed of the crystal lettuce that is in production still to this day. Tested are the sorts of domesticated late flowering cauliflowers. The production of that culture is significant to the Split-Trogir area. This production is important for export and the domestic market. Beside the work on domestic vegetable sorts, constant work is done on the introduction of new types and sorts.

Their own research confirmed the most suitable agrotechnical measures for most of the vegetable cultures. The results of the testing and the produced selected seeds are given to production.

In the active circle of the Department was researched the production of early vegetables in a hydroponic greenhouse. That was the new production. Chosen was the new assortment, type of nurture, protection and the rest. The testings lasted a few years and the results were satisfactory.

Among the already mentioned functions of the vegetable growing, the Institute is registered in expert control of producing agricultural seeds. This includes all categories of sort and type seeds of vegetables and flowers, furthermore stubble grains. It is also registered in confirming the quality of finished seeds of all kind.

Today and the future activity of the Department is introduction of new sorts for increasing the number of vegetable cultures. In the last two years our work was limited to three cultures (artichokes, broccoli, and red dandelion). We established an invidious collaboration with the Agricultural college in Zagreb and PZ "Obnova" in Trogir (testing research), and in foreign countries with the most popular an valued producers of seeds (Italy, Israel, USA and the Netherlands). During the next two and a half years we plan to develop a well organized department , actually a Centre for the Mediterranean vegetables, with a few young experts, with an adequate support from the Ministry of agriculture and the Ministry of science.

Floriculture, as an activity of agricultural production, is experiencing a growth in the coastal region where the climate conditions are most suitable. This is primarily concerned with the production of cut flowers: cauliflower, gerbera, and bulbous types. The seedling material for the domestic producers was imported. That kind of orientation, from year to year, stumbled into difficulties that towards the end of the seventies and the beginning of eighties threatened the survival of this production. On the other hand the domestic producers of seedlings had great difficulty in development and placement. The Institute, in 1969, was the first in the country to start the production of seedling materials of cauliflowers and gerbera through a trade-technical collaboration with the Babaret-Blanc company.

The orientation of the Institute from the very start was to create a base for their own production of seedling materials. From year to year, with personal investments and uplifting the standard of professionalism, new technological procedure was adopted and the production cycle was coming to a close, step by step. In the first phase were imported shoots that were brought to life at the objects of the Institute. The second phase is characterized by the nurturing of imported parent colony plants of cauliflowers and gerbera, the production of shoots and scarring. The third phase resulted in the elimination of import. The basis of the third phase was the production of personal colony plants that are completely on the level with world norms (free of virus and tracheomycosis bacterium).

The possibilities created in the production of an ‚lite seedling material are huge and could satisfy the needs of the domestic producers of seedling material. In the problematics of floriculture happened some improper guidance concerning the what and whose are the specific functions. From the basic scientific research taken was a step towards commercial production. The commercial direction with the lack of trade resources, experience in commercial organization, bad leadership, self rule and else, has had a negative impact on the Department and financially on the whole activity of the Institute. Inadequate activity of the Department was cancelled in 1990 and in 1992 the Department stopped the commercial production of flowers starting its orientation exclusively in producing ‚lite repromaterial for the needs of popular producers. The objects that served the commercial production are now in part used for scientific research, and for the second part is searched the most suitable form of activity (with the approval from the Ministry of science).