EP0452388A1 - Arrangement in plant columns - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement of tubs for the cultivation of plants in the form of tubes, which comprises a housing essentially in the form of tubes enclosing and containing a plant substrate and provided with several spaced openings serving as a pocket for plants. The present invention is characterized in that the tub-shaped container, which consists of at least two curved or flat parts, elongated and interconnected (1) intended to define a space for receiving the substrate with semi-cross section circular, circular or rectangular, comprises at least along one of the parts (1), openings (5, 8) forming the pockets (4) for plants. These pockets are downwards delimited by a curved part (6) extending beyond the tub-shaped container and obliquely upward and forming a support for the earth ball containing the root of the plant, possibly with a cover, and are upwards delimited by a curved part in the form of a valve (7) extending in the tubular tank and forming a support for the substrate above the opening.

Description

ARRANGEMENT IN PLANT COLUMNS

The present invention relates to an arrangement in plant columns of the type stated in the claims.

For example, Swedish patent specification 363,960 discloses an arrangement for so-called vertical growing of plants, which consists of a column-shaped container com¬ prising a plurality of interconnectible elements and having a number of apertures which are defined downwards by outwardly folded margins. The container is filled with soil, and seeds or plants can be put to grow in the apertures with the outwardly folded margins. British patent aplication 2,254,414 discloses a similar arrange- ent which also consists of a column-shaped container which can be filled with soil and has a plurality of apertures. In contrast to the arrangement according to the first-mentioned publication, this one has no outwardly folded margin. Instead, a panel of material which is partly separated as the aperture is being made, is folded back so as to form an inwardly inclined flap which up- • wardly defines a cavity in the soil directly opposite the aperture, such that inside the lower margin of the aperture a substantially horizontal soil surface can be provided.

The prior art arrangements are adapted to be free¬ standing and consequently have apertures on every side.

In these prior art plant columns, the plants must be replanted, which must be considered a serious drawback. It is a fact that a so-called transplant shock arises when the root systems of pregrown plants are replanted in new surroundings. There will be acclimatisation problems owing to the damage caused to the root system during re¬ planting, and also owing to the environmental conditions which are characteristic of the species and the develop¬ mental phase which the plants have reached at the time of replanting. One object of the invention thus is to render replanting of plants possible which have been pregrown on a horizontal surface and have different root-ball systems, to a plant column, without the root system of the plant being affected by the replanting operation and without the new surroundings disturbing the root system.

One advantage of so-called vertical growing which can be compared to a bearing tree, is inter alia that the usable soil surface is larger than the ground surface re¬ quired for the plant column. The ground or floor surface is better utilised. Also in view of the plants' require¬ ments for light and air around the unit for vertical growing of plants, the required ground or floor surface is considerably smaller than the soil surface offered by the same unit or column for vertical growing of plants. In horizontal growing, the ground surface needed and the soil surface are the same size.

A plant column or a unit for vertical growing and its usable soil surface provide for a larger number of growin positions, i.e. accommodate more plants than the same soil surface would allow in normal horizontal growing. The limited soil volume in a plant column makes it possible to accurately check the temperature of the growing substrate and to keep it higher than the tempera¬ ture of the ground in horizontal growing. This difference in temperature promotes growth and results in earlier and better crops.

Vertical growing requires no herbicides and also reduces the need of remedy for soil-bound diseases and attacks. A further advantage is that fruits like strawberries do not lose aroma owing to soil damp caused by rain.

Of course, gathering can also be carried out more comfortably.

The above advantages imply that the costs per unit area are lower, especially in greenhouse cultivation wher the growing potential of the floor or ground surface in¬ creases and the costs for different herbicides and the like are reduced. One condition that must be fulfilled if good results are to be obtained is, however, that re¬ planting can be carried out such that the damage to the plants is minimised and the growing cycle is not disturbed in that the plants are subjected to an acclimatisation shock.

The object of the present invention is to provide a so-called plant column which can be free-standing or dis¬ posed adjacent a wall and is adapted to directly receive pregrown plants without replanting, both plants culti¬ vated in pots made of, for example, compressed peat ma¬ terial or cellulose, or in mesh material pots, and plants cultivated in a bed in tubular containers whose both ends are open. The characteristic features of the invention are stated in the appended claims.

Pregrowing is effected horizontally in conventional manner on small surfaces where sunlight or artificial light can be used for forcing purposes. Forcing of plants requires minimal spaces for the individual plants and can be carried out on an industrial scale for delivery to individual growers or consumers. Pregrowing occurs in small pots or cups of compressed peat material, cellulose, mesh material or the like, or in tubular sleeves filled with substrate and open in both ends. Such pots, sleeves and the like can also be made of paper-based material, plastics or the like and serve merely to hold together the root system of each plant and separate the plant from neighbouring plants. Since pregrown plants can be directly inserted in the plant column, without removal of the pot or sleeve, the risk that the plant is subjected to a shock due to such replanting, is eliminated, and the plant con¬ tinues to grow immediately in the new position.

Some embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention will be described in more detail in the follow¬ ing, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a so-called plant column in a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 shows a portion of a second embodiment of the plant column as seen obliquely from one side, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the centre- of one of the tubular inserts in the embodiment shown" in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a front view of a further embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, partly in section.

The actual plant column is made of flat and, respect¬ ively, curved panels 1 of sheet material, which by means of locking strips enclosing projecting edges 2, or by means of screw joints, gluing or the like can be joined together to circular, semicircular or polygonal columns. The side of each panel facing the interior of the column is formed with grooves adapted to support substantially horizontal plates or partitions of which the lower one carries substrate material, soil and the like. On the upper partition, a water container for watering can be arranged, and a lid for preventing evaporation is suitabl arranged above the water container at the end of the column.

The column can be attached to or supported by a pos- teriorly situated wall. If the column is positioned ad¬ jacent a wall, the rear side is formed of a flat panel 3, and an impermeable bottom is arranged at the lower end of the column and provided with a drain cock or plug for drained water and for checking that the substrate is sa- turated. In a one-section column which normally is adapted to^"be mounted on a wall or the like and in which the flat unit closing the rear side of the column forms part of supporting means, the joint between the wall panel and the column as such should be designed to eliminate the risk that water and substrate leak out. The joining together can be effected by means of U-shaped clamping strips whic can be supplemented with rivets, screws or like means, and a suitable jointing compound, adhesive or the like.

The column can advantageously be free-standing and then comprises, instead of a flat rear side 3, one more curved panel 1, such that the column is substantially circular in cross-section.

Openings in the plant column which below are called plant pockets 4 can be arranged in various ways.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, each of a plurality of openings 5 formed in the panel 1 of the plant column is downwardly defined by a flap-shaped curved por¬ tion 6 which extends obliquely upwards and outwards and forms a balcony-like projection, and is upwardly defined by a flap-shaped portion 7 which is also conveniently curved and extends obliquely downwards and inwards. The lower portion 6 forms a support for the root-ball of the plant and/or the peat pot or the like surrounding the same, while the upper portion 7 forms a support for the substrate inside the column, thereby preventing the sub- strate from falling out through the opening 5.

The two curved portions 6, 7 which downwardly and upwardly define the openings are suitably integrated with the panel in that the material - if it is thermoplastic - is somewhat heated and. bent. First, one can for example make a slit-shaped opening in the circumferential direc¬ tion, then heat the material and insert a suitable tool in the slit and pivot the tool in the longitudinal direction of the column, such that the material below the slit is bent outwards and the material above the slit is bent in- wards. in the embodiment shown in- Figs 2 and 3, the arcu- ately curved panel 1 forming the actual plant column is provided with a large number of oval or non-circular holes 8 in which short tubular members 9 which are inclined obliquely upwards, are inserted and secured. The dimen¬ sions and the shape of the edges defining the holes 8 in relation to the pipe dimension determine the direction of the pipe member.

The tubular members 9 are at the top and at the bottom formed with slits or projections 10, 11 which are relatively offset in the axial direction. When the pipe is inserted in the associated hole, the upper and lower edge of the hole will snap into these slits 10, 11 - when the correct angular position has been taken - and will thus secure the pipe against displacement both inwards and out- wards and against pivoting.

In the same manner as in the embodiment described above, a projecting curved portion is provided which forms a support for the root-ball of the plant, optionally with a pot or pipe, and the space in the column is inwardly and upwardly defined, whereby the substrate is prevented from falling out through the hole before insertion of a plant. The axial length of the pipe is- adapted such that a plant inserted therein comes into contact, as intended, with the substrate in the plant column. One advantage of using a column which only has holes 8 in combination with pipes 9 which are insertable into the holes, is that the pipes themselves can serve as a holder or "pot" for plants during pregrowing. To this end, pipes filled with substrate are disposed on a suitable horizontal bed, whereupon seeds or cuttings are placed in the pipes. When the plants have reached the intended size, the pipes 9 together with the plant and the root-ball with its clod of substrate can be directly inserted in the plant column where the plant continues to grow. By having two or more sets of such pipes, the' plant column can be maximally utilised, since one set can be used for pregrowing of plants, while another set is po¬ sitioned in the plant column etc.

The above-mentioned pipes need not necessarily be precisely tubular, but can in some cases be replaced by- U- shaped channels, whereby the upper fixing means 10 is omitted and replaced by notches formed in the edges of th U-shaped member, said notches engaging the side portions of the edge of the respective hole.

By using column portions which can be joined to¬ gether, a plant column consisting of two sections allows culturing of plants of different types and having diffe¬ rent substrate requirements, even plants which in their root system produce substances having a detrimental effect on other plants. This is possible in that the column is divided by means of an impermeable vertical boundary panel which is similar to, for example, the panel 3 and is dis¬ posed between the two sections 1 before joining thereof.

Also the embodiment in Figs 4 and 5 is advantageously made of a formable sheet or panel material 1 which by vacuum forming is given the intended shape. Alternatively, the major part of the plant column can however in this embodiment be formed by injection moulding.

As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of apertures 5 are formed in the curved part 1 which are downwardly defined by projecting portions 6 and upwardly defined by inwardly extending portions 7. In the aperture which is defined by the upper edge of the projection 6 and the lower edge of the projection 7, there is provided an inwardly extending flange 12 which is adapted to be en¬ gaged by the edge of a standard growing pot. Such pots are made in only a few sizes, and the flange can be adapted so that the largest pots can be received inwardly thereof. If smaller pots are to be used, they can simply be provided with an adaptor having an outer diameter corresponding to that of the large pot. The embodiment in Figs 4 and 5 can be used either as a so-called half column with a rear portion 3 attached to the edge flanges 13, or as a full column comprising two interconnected semicircular portions.

In the upper portion of the column there is mounted a partition 14 adapted to rest against a groove 15 formed in the panel 1, and the space above the partition 14 ac¬ commodates a water container 16. This is bag-shaped and made of a soft impermeable, strong material and is mounted in that its marginal portion is pulled over the edge of the panel 1 and the rear portion 3 and is fixed by means of a U-moulding. The water container can be provided with a dropping tube through which water successively drips into the interior of the plant column so as to be col¬ lected and distributed in the substrate. In the preferred embodiment, a wick means 17 is preferably used, i.e. a strip or the like of a spongy or porous material, which is hung over the edge of the water container and whose one end extends into the water container and whose other end reaches the substrate. By choosing a suitable material an area, the watering volume per unit of time can be precise¬ ly determined. One advantage of the wick watering system to the dripping system in which water is allowed to drip through a tube or the like is that the risk of spilling i significantly smaller in the first-mentioned system.

At the bottom of the unit 1 there is a further par¬ tition 18 serving as a support for the substrate in the plant column, and this partition is adapted to let throug excessive water, if any, which can be collected in the container 19 and, when desired, be emptied by removal of the plug 20.

If a number of plant columns are arranged side by side, one can of course provide a central watering means, i.e. a central container with a water mains connection, from which so-called microtubes extend to each of the columns. The watering means should be provided with control means to facilitate drip watering and accurate control of the supplied amount of water.

In most cases, the technique of using a wick means a indicated above is preferred. A mat of suitably dimen¬ sioned capillary material, which functions as a wick, can extend from the bottom of the water container, over the edge thereof and be folded back on itself under the botto of the container and can then extend downwards along the rear wall in contact with the substrate, the lower end of the mat hanging down in the drainage container 19. This results in an appropriately slow and even supply of water and brings the further advantage that any water dripping down in the drainage container 19 will be sucked up again and distributed in the substrate.

Such watering by means of a capillary mat is of great value since, at the same time as the necessary supply of water is ensured, it eliminates the risk that the sub¬ strate is soaked. Also in slow drip watering, a certain impoverishment of the substrate can occur in that nutri¬ tive substances and - especially at high temperatures - the vital nitrogen compounds are removed by soaking.

In countries where the supply of water is limited, the use of capillary watering implies a significantly improved utilisation of the water and a reduction of loss owing to evaporation and waste.

The plant column shown in Figs 4 and 5 is suited for seed-growing as well as growing of pregrown plants with or without pot, and with the root-ball enclosed by cloth. In seed-growing, the seed is sown directly in the substrate which is then allowed to come up in the holes 5. When pot- grown plants are used, the substrate is hollowed out directly opposite each hole, such that the bottom portion of the pot is perfectly enclosed by the substrate. It is prior art to use elongate tubes or bags of plastic sheeting which are filled with substrate for pregrowing of plants. Such tubes and bags can of course be used together with the plant column according to the in¬ vention, and in a not shown embodiment especially intended therefor, the front and rear portion of the plant column are joined together by a hinge means such that they can be separated so as to allow insertion of a tube filled with substrate. After the column parts have again been joined together, it is possible to make apertures in the tube on a level with each plant pocket by means of a knife or the like, and sow or plant directly in the apertures or the positions of the pipes and the uncovered substrate. Since the peat pot or the root-ball of a pregrown plant will be supported against the projecting portion connected with the lower part of the aperture, while the interior of the root-ball through the cut hole reaches the substrate in the tube, cultivation shocks are avoided and handling is, to a high degree, facilitated.

To make it easier for the grower, the plant column according to the invention can, when delivered, be pro¬ vided with the necessary substrate in the form of com- pressed peat mould in slices which suitably can be packed, enclosed in sheeting inside the plant column. The buyer only needs to add water to make the peat slices swell to the required volume filling the plant column. Of course, also nutritive substances, fertilisers etc. can be enclosed.

In the embodiments illustrated and others that are feasible, the inventive plant column facilitates handling in connection with growing of ornamental as well as uti¬ lity plants, minimises the need of space in the lateral direction, makes it possible to use both pregrown plants and seed growing and eliminates, through the design of plant pockets, any risks of so-called cultivation shocks.

The design and the function make the plant column fit for professional use and for use in market gardens and the like. In the latter case, a number of so-called full col¬ umns can be hung up in stands in a greenhouse, whereby on the same floor surface space is provided for a many times greater number of plants as compared with conventional horizontal growing in cases, trays or the like.

Claims

1. An arrangement in plant columns comprising a substantially column-shaped casing which encloses and contains a plant substrate and has a plurality of spaced- apart openings which serve as pockets to receive plants, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said plant column which is made of two or more elongate and interconnectible, curved or flat parts (1) for defining a substrate- receiving space of semicircular, circular or rectangular cross-section, has, at least along one of said parts (1), openings (5,8) forming so-called plant pockets (4), which are downwardly defined by a curved portion ( 6) extending beyond the plant column and obliquely upwards and forming a support for the root-ball of the plant, optionally with a cover, and which are upwardly defined by a curved, flap- shaped portion (7) extending into the plant column and forming a support for the substrate above the opening, and that under said substrate-receiving space there is ar¬ ranged a collecting space for water drained from said substrate.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the portions (6,7) which define the opening upwards and downwards are integrated with the column part ( 1) having the openings (5), preferably by bending in and, respectively, out portions of material positioned above and below a slit-shaped opening.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r- a c t e r i s e d in that the portions which define said opening upwards and downwards consist of parts of a pipe (9) arranged in a substantially oval aperture (8) in the column casing (1), and that said pipe is provided with abutment portions (10,11) which lockingly engage the edges of said aperture (8), as the pipe takes its intended in¬ clined position.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said abutment portions consist of slits or projections (10, 11) which are formed on the upper and lower side of said pipe (9) and are relatively offset in the axial direction.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the pipes (9) insertable in said apertures are adapted, when positioned on a sub¬ stantially horizontal base suited for pregrowing, to serve as pregrowing spaces for plants and the like.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the top of said plant column has a space for a water container (16), and that said container which is made of an impermeable material is provided with means for controllable supply of water to the subjacent substrate.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 6, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that a wick means (17) consisting of a mat or strip of capillary material is disposed over the edge of said water container, one end of said wick means being located inside the water container and extending in engagement with said substrate along the height of the entire plant column and the other end thereof extending downwards into the container which is arranged at the lower end of said plant column and adapted to collect water drained from the substrate.

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the parts of sheet material forming the plant column are, along one edge, joined to- gether in a hinge-like manner so as to facilitate the supply of substrate enclosed by a tube-shaped sheeting which is capable of being cut open adjacent the respectiv aperture.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r- a c t e r i s e d in that the interior of said plant column is adapted to receive a substrate of e.g. peat, which is compressed to slices and adapted, after adding o water, to fill said plant column.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r¬ a c t e r i s e d in that one or more plant columns are connected to a central self-acting watering means.