GB2146215A - Method of cultivating seedlings and means for use in the method - Google Patents

Abstract

Seeds are planted in respective, small blocks of compost. Larger blocks each having a recess to receive one of the smaller blocks, are prepared when the seed has germinated. Tools for making the blocks each comprise a body 114 defining cavities which are closed at the top by plates 119 displaceable through the cavities by ejector means 116. Core elements 120 are provided on the plates to form the recess for the seed or smaller block. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of cultivating seedlings and means for use in the method According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cultivating seedlings wherein a plurality of first blocks of compost are placed on a common support in a single layer, respective seeds are germinated in said first blocks to produce seedlings, after germination of the seeds, the first blocks are removed from said support and are placed each in a recess formed in a respective larger block of compost and each seedling is grown in a combination of a first block and a larger block.

There may be one or more additional seedlings in each first block and in each combination of a first block and a larger block. By the term "compost", we mean any medium in which it is intended to grow plants.

Accordng to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided the combination of a larger block of compost defining a recess, a smaller block of compost occupying the recess and a seedling which has been germinated in the smaller block and grown into the combination of the larger and smaller blocks.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a set of tools for use in preparing a combination according to the second aspect of the invention, the set comprising first and second devices, each of said devices comprising a respective body which defines a plurality of cavities and an ejector which is movable relative to the body to eject material from the cavities, each cavity being normally open at one end, called herein the bottom, the ejector including a respective element movable within each cavity towards and away from the bottom thereof and the device further comprising a plurality of core elements, at least one for each cavity, the core elements normally being disposed at least partly in the cavities, a first of said devices defining cavities which are larger than the cavities defined by the second of the devices and the core elements of the first device having substantially the same size and shape as do the cavities of the second device.

An example of a method according to the first aspect of the invention, in which there is used a combination according to the second aspect and an example of a set of tools according to the third aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I illustrates diagrammatically some members of a group of blocks of compost in a tray which is partly broken away; Figure 2 illustrates a second tray, also partly broken away, and containing a group of larger blocks of compost, two only of which are shown; Figure 3 illustrates a first tool used in preparing the blocks shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 4 illustrates a second tool used in preparing the blocks shown in Fig. 2.

The tools illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 are intended for use in the preparation of blocks of compost. An example of a tool used for this general purpose is described in GB 1,516,275. The general arrangement of the tools illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 hereof may be the same as that of the tool described in the aforesaid published specification. The main difference between the tools illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the tool 10 of Fig. 3 is suitable for producing relatively small blocks of compost 11; whereas the tool 1 2 of Fig. 4 is suitable for producing larger blocks 1 3 of compost.

The blocks 11 and 1 3 of compost typically have the form of rectangular prisms which are at least approximately cubic. Each dimension of a block 1 3 is substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of a block 11. Typically, the volume of a block 1 3 is within the range 1 5 times to 30 times the volume of a block 11. The length of each edge of a block 11 is preferably within the range 1 Omm to 30mm; whereas the length of each edge of a block 1 3 is preferably within the range 30mm to 75mm.

The device 10 shown in Fig. 3 has a body 1 4 defining rows of cavities which correspond in size and shape to the blocks 11, these cavities normally being open at the bottom of th body. The top of the body includes a handle 15, by means of which the body can be plunged into a mass of compost. This mass preferably has an even depth somewhat greater than the depth of the cavities defined by the body 14. The body can then be plunged downwardly through the mass to a surface on which the mass of compost rests, thereby charging each of the cavities defined by the body.

The device 10 further comprises an ejector 1 6 for ejecting the contents of each cavity defined by the body 1 4. The ejector is provided with a handle 1 7 and biased upwardly relative to the body 1 5 by a spring 1 7.

Respective plate-like elements 1 9 of the ejector are movable in respective ones of the cavities defined by the body 1 4 and normally close the upper ends of those cavities.

On each element 1 9 there is provided a downwardly projecting core element 20, preferably formed by stretching and deforming the material of the element 1 9 in a plunging operation, in a case where the element 1 9 is formed of sheet metal.

Parts of the device 1 2 which correspond to parts of the device 10 hereinbefore described are indicated in Fig. 4 by like reference numerals with the prefix 1. The preceding description is deemed to apply to these corresponding parts, except for differences herein after mentioned.

The body 11 4 of the device 1 2 is larger than the body 14 but defines a smaller number of cavities. Each core element 1 20 of the device 1 2 has a size and shape substantially equal to the size and shape of the cavities defined by the body 14. The core elements 1 20 may be fabricated separately from the ejector elements 11 9 and secured thereto.

The body 1 4 of the device 10 is plunged into a mass of compost to charge the cavities of the body 14 and is then withdrawn from the mass of compost. The bottom of the body may be drawn across a blade-like structure or the upper edge of a side wall of a tray containing the compost to ensure that the underside of each block formed in a respective cavity of the body is substantially flat.

The body, containing the blocks of compost, is transferred to a try 21 and the body 14 is held on the bottom of the tray. The handle 1 7 is then depressed somewhat to compress the blocks of compost and thereby expel any excess water which may be present. The blocks of compost are then held on the bottom of the tray by means of the ejector 1 6 and the body 1 5 is raised to leave the blocks of compost in the tray. This operation is repeated to occupy the entire bottom of the tray with a single layer of blocks 11 of compost in contiguous relation with one another.

The core elements 20 form relatively small, round depressions in the upper surfaces of the blocks 11 and seeds are dropped into these depressions. The blocks 11 of compost are then maintained under conditions suitable for germination of the seeds.

When the seeds have germinated in the blocks 11, the tool 1 2 is used in the same manner as is the tool 10 to produce further blocks 1 3 of compost in a larger tray 22. The blocks 1 3 form a sinle layer occupying completely the bottom of the tray and are in contiguous relation with one another. The blocks 11, each containing at least one seedling (not shown) are removed from the tray 21 and separated from one another. Each block 11 is inserted into the recess formed in the upper surface of a corresponding block 1 3 by a core element 1 20. The block 11 may be squeezed somewhat immediately prior to insertion into the recess and will subsequently expand to contact the boundaries of the recess and occupy the recess completely.Preferably, the upper surfaces of the blocks 11 and 1 3 are at substantially the same level, when these blocks have been combined in the tray 22. The combined blocks are then maintained under conditions suitable for growth of the seedlings.

It will be understood that the temperature at which the blocks must be maintained for satisfactory growth of the seedlings is lower than the temperature at which the blocks must be maintained for satisfactory germination of the seedlings. Accordingly, the tray 21 containing the blocks 11 is maintained at a higher temperature than is the tray 22 containing the combined blocks. However, because the blocks 11 are reiatively small, the rate of use of thermal energy to maintain a given number of the blocks 11 at the temperature required for germination is no greater than, and is generally less than, the rate of use of thermal energy to maintain the same number of combined blocks at the temperature required for growth of the seedlings.

It will be understood that the core elements may have shapes different from those illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, the devices 10 and 1 2 or parts thereof may be formed as mouldings of plastics material. In this case, the cavities defined by the body 1 4 and the core elements 1 20 may be rounded.

The core elements 1 20 are preferably slightly tapered, the narrower end being the lower end. The cavities defined by the bodies 14 and 114 also may be slightly tapered, the narrower end being the upper end.

Claims (7)

1. A method of cultivating seedlings wherein a plurality of first blocks of compost are placed on a common support in a single layer, respective seeds are germinated in said first blocks to produce seedlings, after germination of the seeds, the first blocks are removed from said support and are placed each in a recess formed in a respective larger block and each seedling is grown in a combination of a first block and a larger block.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein a group of said larger blocks is placed in mutually contiguous relation to form a single layer on a common support.

3. A combination comprising a larger block of compost defining a recess, a smaller block of compost occupying the recess and a seedling which has been germinated in the smaller block and grown into the combination of the larger and smaller blocks.

4. A set of tools for use in the preparation of a combination according to Claim 3, the set comprising first and second devices, each of said devices comprising a respective body which defines a plurality of cavities and an ejector which is movable relative to the body to eject material from the cavities, each cavity being normally open at one end, called herein the bottom, the ejector including a respective element movable within each cavity towards and away from the bottom thereof and the device further comprising a plurality of core elements, at least one for each cavity, the core elements normally being disposed at least partly in the cavities and being associated with the ejector for movement therewith relative to the body, a first of said devices defining cavities which are larger than the cavities defined by the second of the devices and the core elements of the first device having substantially the same size and shape as do the cavities of the second device.

5. A method of cultivating seedlings substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A set of tools substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings.