GB2265536A - Plant growing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification describes a large number of embodiments of such apparatus utilising a plug 14 of growing medium enveloped by a flexible sheet 16 which is slidably located within a sleeve/sheath 10 split to provide a slot 12 through which the free edges 13 of the sheet 16 protrude. The flexible sheet 16 and enclosed plug may be slid telescopically relative to the sleeve 10 to allow removal, or the extension of the growing chamber 17 (see Figure 2). Sheet 16 may be a transparent membrane and apparatus may include irrigation system (e.g. capillary wicks) and heat generation or cooling apparatus. Membrane 16 may be clipped - see Figure 3 for arrangements and various forms of sheath to provide multiple chambers are illustrated; membrane chamber may be subdivided (see e.g. Figure 5). Figure 6 shows a root control membrane (32) wound in helical fashion. Figure 7 shows a membrane 16 with a base flap 40 and retaining tabs 42. Details of apparatus in use are given. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT GROWING APPARATUS This invention relates to plant growing apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, to plant growing apparatus which allows seeds to be germinated or seedlings or cuttings to be grown, nurtured and later transplanted with minimum disturbance of the root system.

Existing methods of propagation do not allow ths plant etc to develop a long tap root fully, because the pot is usually of limIted depth. FXoot disturbance with existing methods partIcularly with tap rooted subjects but not exclusively, makes it difficult to transplant them success- fully without failure or severe setback impairing quality and progress. One could simply use a larger pot but this requires much more compost and the increased diameter of the pot takes up too much space.

According to one aspect, this invention provides O plant growing apparatus comprising a flexible sheet elcmen-t or surrounding a volume of growing medium, and means for clipping or holding spaced linear regions of said sheet element to define a growing chamber, wherein said means for clipping or holding may be moved to adjust the position of said sheet element relative to said means for clipping or holding.

The apparatus preferably includes a plurality of sheet elements movable with respect both to each other, the means for clipping, and the growing medium.

Said means for clipping or holding preferably comprises a resiliently deformable hollow shell element defining an internal cavity into which the or each flexible sheet element and said growing medium may be introduced, the shell element having an elongate slot the edges of which engage the linear regions of the or each sheet element. Said shell element is preferably generally of constant cross-section, eOg. circular or polygonal. Said shell element may be transparent or translucent and may be formed by csJcrui,ion and split along its length to provide said slot. Said. means or holding may comprise an external sheath or clip which engages said spaced linear regions.The or each flexible sheet elemen-t or one thereof may comprise a membrane of plastics or synthetic material, which may be pe3-meabie t:ransparant or translucent, and/or have heating means associated therewith.Said sheet element is preferably configured in use in a generally tubular form and a ba.c element is located within said sheet element. ThD base element may be a flap integrally formed with said sheet element or it may be a separately formed element locatable within said shee-t element when in use.

Said sheet element is preferably formed with a plural ity of elements projecting or projectable inwardly in use to support said base element, and a series of rows or projections may be provided whereby the base element may be located at different heights in the sheet element. Said projecting elements conveniently comprise tabs formed in said sheet element. The plant growing apparatus may include partitioning means for partitioning the volume enclosed by said sheet element and said partitioning means may comprise a helically wound barrier, wound to define between its turns a plurality of radially separated areas for roo-t development.The partitioning means may be profiled to provide a contoured upper surface when located in said sheet element, and means may be provided for main-taining adjacent parts thereof at a required spacing. The partitioning means may partition the volume enclosed by said sheet element into sub-compartments for separate plants, and may be :cree- standing.

The invention also ex-tends to a sheet element of flexible material having opposed regions for being b:t:ought together to define an elongate growing volume, said sheet element ,nclllcRing a plurality of areas pre-scamped or o-therwis- locally weakened to allow portions of the sheet element to be caused to project from the surroundinr surface to provide projections on which a base element may be located.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided plant growing apparatus comprising an outer shell member arranged in use to surround and support a plug of growing medium, wherein said plug may be slid up or down with respect to said shell member.

The shell member may be circular or polygonal in crosssection and may be trar:sparent, opaque or opaque in part and transparent in part. It is preferably expandable or reducible to parts to ease sliding and removal of the plug and may include means, e.g. a wedge for expanding the shell member. The shell member is preferably in the form of a sleeve of resiliently deformable material and of generally constant cross-section split along its length to allow expansion or reduction to parts.

The plug of growing medium is preferably substantially contained thin or surrounded by at least one thin flexible membrane or other imperforate or perforate sheet material.

Alternatively, the plug may be in the form of a self- supporting plug, for example a network or matrix of biode- gradable material the interstices of which are filled with growing medium.

Where the shell member is a split sleeve, an edge regions of the membrane or sheet material preferably prcj cots through the split in use to allow it to be gripped to facilitate sliding of the plug. The membrane or Sheet materIal may be opaque, transparent or opaque in parts and transparent in part. It may form a perforate or imperforate cover over the surface of the growing medium so that the micro climate around each seedling can be controlled, for example by sliding the plug in the shell member to adjust the amount of light, ventilation etc.

Further plugs of growing medium may be inserted into the sleeve members as required, for example where the plant has a long tap root. The apparatus may include a cap member for closing the top of the shell member, for example if the plant is to be raised in the dark with reduced top light.

The apparatus may include capillary means for supplying liquid to the growing medium.

The invention also extends to the component parts of the apparatus when sold for use therewith. So, for example, the sleeve members and flexible membranes may be sold separately. The invention also extends to a pre-packed plug of growing medium (with or without a seed or plant). This may be in the form of a sealed pouch containing the growing medium and, if required, one or more seed plant cuttings etc. The growing medium may be sterilised or non-sterilised.

In -the latter case the pouch may be small enough to allow home sterilisation in a microwave oven.

While the invention has been described above it includes any inventive combination of the features set ou-t above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in many waves end an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure l(a) and l(b) are perspective views of growing tubes in accordance with the invention, Figures 2(a), (b) and (c) illustrate various configurations of the growing tubes of Figure 1 ( a) Figures 3(a) to (d) show schematic views of various clipping arrangements, Figures 4(a) to (e) show schematic views of various clustered or multi cellular assemblies, Figures 5(a) to (c) are schematic view of various internal partitioning arrangements, Figure 6 is a schematic view of a growing tube with an internal, helically wound root control membrane, Figures 7(a) and (b) are views of a membrane sheet when flat and assembled for use, respectively, Figures 8(a) and (b) are plan views of a second form of membrane sheet when fla, and a separate base potion respectivoly, Figure 9 is an exploded view of a composite growing tube assembly showing alternate clipping arrarlgements, alternate membrane elements, and an insertion tool, Figure 10 illustrates a sowing sequence for batch sowing, and Figure 11 shows the growing tube in use in a nllrsery bed.

The growing tube in Figure l(a) comprises a cylincrical sleeve or sheath 10 of resilient plastics material split along its length as shown at 12. A plug 14 of growing medium - e.g. compost - is contained within the sleeve 10 and surrounded by a thin membrane 16 of plastics sheet material. The edges of the membrane 16 project through the slit to provide a "handle" to allow the plug 14 and membrane 16 to be slid up or down the sleeve 10 or to be removed from it altogether for transplanting. The tube in this example is about 6" (15 cm) long and 1" (4 cm) in diameter although the dimensions may be yreater or less as required. For mcst practical purposes the maximum dimensions are likely to be 12" (30 cm) long and 3" (8cm) diameter.Figure l(b) shows a growing tube of square cross-section.

Figure 2(a) shows the usual initial configuration with the plug 14 and transparent membrane 16 fully inserted in the tube. Figure 2(b) shows the case where the tap root from the seedling requires a further plug 141 contained within a membrane 161. This is done by sliding the plug 10 and membrane 16 upwardly and introducing the further plug 141 and membrane 161 into the sleeve 10. Figure 2(c) shows a sleeve 10 with a basic plug 14, a further plug 141 with the membrane 16 providing a transparent wall portion 18 enclosing the seedling.

In use, once the seedling has reached the required maturity and the conditions permit, the plug or plugs 16 etc plus seedling are yen-tly removed from the sleeve 10, by pulling the edges 13 of the membranes 16 etc along the slit 12. The seedling and plug can then be transplanted with minimal disturbance to the root system.

The apparatus may include an irrigation system (not shown). For example, there may be capillary wicks which can be inserted into the plug of growing medium. Also, the plug may be surrounded by a sleeve of capillary material or perforate membrane which may be instead of or in addition to the membrane 16.

The apparatus may also contain gentle heat generation or cooling apparatus or sources within its insulated confines to promote germination of particular plant specimens or seeds.

The basic growing tube arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 consists of a single outer split sheath or sleeve 10 with an inner membrane 16 which telescopes inside the outer shea-th 10 and roughly conforms to its inner surface. The membrane 16 forms a long chamber 17 which contains a growing medium structured to provide an advantageous root environment for plant nurture.

The geometry is such that the inner membrane 16 embracing the soil compost and root system of the growing plants can be readily laid open to release the contents prior to transplanting elsewhere, or possibly re-positioning within the original growing tube or a larger growing tube with more compost.

Alternatively, the inner membrane 16 and plants may be partly telescoped out of the sheath 10 to provide further space for more compost beneath the plants to encourage further growth. Extensions to the inner membrane may be inserted into the outer sheath to contain the added compost, if required.

To facilitate the manipulation of the inner membrane 16, the outer sheath 10 is split along its length and the ends of the membrane 16 fed through the split to provide a convenient finger grip to slide the inner membrane 16 along the outer sheath 10. In effect, the outer sheath acts as an encircling clip which constrains the enclosed membrane loop which forms the chamber for the compost. In Figures 1 and 2, the membrane is received within a tubular sleeve 10.

Figures 3(a) to (d) show arrangements where the membrane is clipped by an external clip (a) and (b) or by an integral clip arrangement (c) and (d). In these arrange ments, a membrane chamber 17 for the soil is formed by using the "outer sheath" as a long external clip 20 or using an integral interlocking or clip arrangement 22 which pinches the opposing longitudinal edges of the membrane 16 but does not envelop it. The arrangements of Figures 3 provide removable, reusable, methods of securing the edges of the membrane 16 to provide an openable root chamber 17 and many variations are possible. All provide a deep, openable, reusable, membrane chamber for the plant root system and are characterised by the ability to form a charnber with open ends which has a substantially constant cross-section along its entire leng-th.As such they can if necessary fit into or around an extension sheath to provide additional root compost capacity by telescopic action.

Referring to Figures 4(a) to (c), the outer sheath 10 can be configured in more complex forms to provide multiple spaces to hold multiple membrane chambers 17 in enveloped fashion or externally clipped as described above. here a multi-celled cluster 24 provides multiple aper-tures 26 into which can be slid a membrane 16 containing growing medium.

The pliability and longitudinal stability of the deep membrane chambers 17 afforded by the apertures 26 allows for considerable variation in the cross-sectional geometry of the clusters. In all cases multiple membrane chambers 17 are formed which are removable, openable, reusable (within the limits of the membrane material), and extendible in -telescopic fashion with projections, using the externally projecting edges of the membranes to allow the chambers 17 to be readily manipulated. The chambers 17 are substantially open-ended but, as described in greater detail below, may be provided with removable flap closures. The outer sheath 10 can be formed with interlocking attachments 25 to allow a cluster of sheaths to be assembled, as shown in Figure 4(d).

Referring to Figures 5(a) to (c), the individual plant chambers 7 defined by the single or multiple sheath/clip clusters 24 can themseives be subdivided by a variety of designs of root spacers 28 which establish sub-chambers 30, each providing growth space for separate plants.

The act of open nag the enclosing membrane 16, lays open the suh-chambers 30 to allow easy damage-free access to the separated root systems.

In this way each membrane chamber 17 forms a multicellular environment for many separate plants. This provides a commercially attractive product variation for grong ng and marketing sets of readily transplantable plants with minimum plant shock on transfer.

In one basic arrangement (Figure 5(a)), the circular cross-sectional area is divided by a star shaped spacer 28 which extends the length of the growing tube. The spacer 28 could, for example, be formed from a sandwich of three rectangular, appropriately dimensioned pieces of paper or plastic sheet, sewn or welded along the longitudinal axis.

These composite layers, when opened and inserted into the membrane chamber 17 provide a "six point star" section which defines six sector shaped sub-chambers 30.

The sub-chambers 30 are deep and narrow and are suitable for deeply rooted subjects such as sweet peas.

Alternative cross-sections and design of the outer sheath/clip structures allow differently formed main plant chambers and hence variations in the sub-plant chambers as illustrated in Figures 5(b) and 5(c).

In some cases it may be desirable to partition the main chamber, co structure its volume in order to manage the growth distribution of the root system of one plant (or intermingling plants). This may be achieved with membrane partiJc,ons embedded in the soil, with open sponge-like structures distributed through the compost, or with spacers or objects distributed in advantageous ways throughout the compost volume.

The divergent downward growth of a plant roo-t system can be diverted by membranes or other barriers embedded in the growing medium. Suitable design, placement, controlled penetrability and nutritional characteristics of the membranes may allow the distribution of the root system to be managed in desirable ways, e.g. to avoid root clustering, or to influence top growth for commercial advantage.

To illustrate this feature, Figure 6 shows a cylindrical growing tube comprising the outer sheath 10 and membrane 16 containing growing medium with the chamber 17 partitioned by a root control membrane 32 wound in helical fashion, spaced by enclosed compost. In some embodiments the compost contains graded objects to assist controlled spacing, in others the membrane is formed with projections to likewise aid spacing. The composition and structure of the membrane is such as to provide, if necessary, required characteristics of penetrability, e.g. a pattern of perforations.

This complex configuration is readily achieved by sprinkling a compost mixture on to a suitably designed and dimensioned flat membrane 32 and then rolling this up, much like a "Swiss Roll". The helical compost sandwich then being substantially cylindrical is inserted readily into the usual outer membrane 16 and thence into the cylindrical sleeve or sheath 10. The control membrane 32 is dimensioned in the example to allow one inch (2.54 cm) depth space at the upper end of the growing chamber 25 to take further compost mix in which a plant is seeded.

As the plant develops, the roots grow divergently downwards and are constrained to the particular region of the helical compost they first penetrate until at random they possibly encounter spots in the root control membrane 32 that they can penetrate into another region. The precise manner in which the root distribution takes place depends on developmental interaction between root growth and the geometrical and compositional characteristics of the membrane.

For example if prior to rolling up, the membrane being flat is shaped as a long, right-angled trapezium, then on being rolled up with compost mix as sandwich spacer, the resulting object is substantially a cylinder with a terraced crater at its upper end. In position, inside a growing tube, this crater is filled with compost and topped with a further layer. A plant seeded in this shaped upper space will develop a root distribution different to that developed in the first case, being determined by the way in which the rootlets strike the crater terrace. If instead of being a trapezium, the initial membrane is profiled with some other shape, then the root distribution will change accordingly.

If additionally the membrane is textured, say with ribs or projections, then again the root development is influenced.

Through the suitable use of these features, for example, the distribution of the root system can be managed to horticul tural and commercial advantage.

The shape of the plant control membrane 32 can be suitably profiled to provide the required crater shape and size. Furthermore, the surface of the root control membrane may be textured with ridges or bumps to assist spacing of the turns of the helix and also to provide root diversion channels. The membrane may be opaque, transparent, perforated, impervious, pervious, microsporous and so on.

Rolls of nutritious (possibly dried) strip compost hacked with membranes or stabilised in some other way through physical or chemical processing could be used and sold separately.

Root growth can be influenced constructively by embedding sponge-like or net-like structures in the growing tube. The filaments/elements of the sponge structures can have capillary properties to provide moisture distribution in wick-like fashion from below.

The structures could be manufactured items, but for cost and environmental reasons, biological sources may provide a better solution. In one embodiment the in-situ root systems of deceased plants may be used. Suitably processed root boles with added nutrients to control chemical imbalance may be used to provide a sponge-like open structure for new growing plants. The differing root distribution characteristics of different plants at different stages of development provide a selection of structures and symbiotic relationships.

Plants grown in growing tubes have root boles ideally dimensioned to use as compost structures for other growing tubes after suitable processing. Plants for composting would be selected on economic grounds to avoid seasonal energy costs and to be in correct symbiotic relat:ionship with categories of growing plants.

Plant root distribution may also be controlled by mixing objects with the basic compost and/or using the composts in layered fashion.

In many cases, the narrowness of the growing tube obviates the necessity for a closed bottom. Compost filling technique, the presence of moisture and the consolidating effects of roots may provide sufficient retention force.

Failing this, a simple band of tape such as "masking tape" stretched across the bottom of the growing tube will prevent compost falling out. This is particularly well adapted to volume production methods, is adequately permanent but biodegradable and cheap. Good drainage is ensured by choosing the correct width of tape.

In some instances however a bottom is desirable. This can be achieved in many ways but all must retain the principle of being easily openable without significant damage to the root system of the retained plants. This bottom can be attached either to the outer growing tube or to the inner membrane chambers. In the latter case if the membrane is moved by sliding within the outer sheath, the bottom arrangement should not inconveniently impede the movement.

Figure 7 shows a shaped membrane 16 provided with an integral base flap 40 and retaining tabs 42 which can be pressed inwardly to locate the base flap when the membrane is made cylindrical, thus making the membrane closed at its lower end to assume retention of the growing medium The base flap 40 does not have to be attached and could be supplied as a separate disc. Drainage may be achieved by holes (not shown) in the flap or disc.

The growing tubes described above comprise longitudinally adjustahle soil chamber volumes (typically telescopic) and include a means of changing the relative positions of the compost and base - sometimes a notional base such as the standing base, or an adhesive strip etc, by either: (a) the relative telescopic action of a split membrane soil chamber, sometimes with a movable flap/diaphragm bottom, concentric with, either inside or outside, other telescopic, split membranes which sheath or shaft each other, clipped either by, a split, enclosing shell, or by a long, external "spine" clip, or (b) by the incremental vertical adjustment of a relocatable flap or diaphragm bottom within the soil chamber.

The above generalisation includes the idea of inserting additional, sliding, concentric (for cylindrical growing tubes), split, pliable membranes around or inside the soil chamber to aid telescoping, and make it easier to add more soil below the plant.

Relating this to the embodiments with external spine clip topology, they are in effect growing tubes with pliable split outer shells whose structural integrity is ensured by the external clips which stiffen them.

The inner membranes in some growing embodiments can be shorter than the outer split, sleeve or sheath, in Shat the outer dimensions can maintain a constant, uniform external presentation of height and diameter whilst the inner soil chamber is adjusted in depth in order to minimize compost usage for the smaller plants - flaps or diaphragm bottoms being provided to retain the compost, as described below.

Additionally, as a development of the arrangement of Figure 7, and as shown in Figure 8, the inner split membrane 16 can have a series of rows of small inwardly pressable tabs 42, circumferentially distributed and radially directed when pressed, located at various heights. These tabs 42 can be brough-t to play in order to locate shelf-like, movable diaphragm bottoms 44, shaped to ease their insertion and manipulation by hand or with the aid of an insertion tool 46.

This allows the volume of the plant chamber to be varied by relocating the bottoms 44 the different tab elevations. These features are illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

Plants growing in the compost chambers can take advantage of the fact that if taken out they can be readily replaced or relocated in the same chamber or a similar chamber but with larger dimensions with more soil and little damage. The depth of soil compared with girth, possible with the described arrangements highlights practical advantages in the above process compared with re-potting in conventional poxes.

The ability to telescope the inner chamber up and down relative to the outer shell has advantages other than just varying the volume of the plant chamber. This fea-ture allows the upper or lower surfaces of the soil as well as its body to be manipulated and placed relative to other structures and items (external or internal to growing tubes) for processes such as seed sowing, watering and interfacing with compost soil nursery beds.

Referring to Figure 10, in a preferred method of seeding, a matrix of seeds is set out on a flat surface 48 sprinkled with a thin layer of compost, by hand or mechanical means, and a conforming set of growing tubes is located in a frame (not shown), pressed downwards on to the surface 48 thus embracing each seed position with a growing tube.

The tubes are filled with compost from above to suitable economic depth, (or to the depth determined by the dimensions of the membrane chamber), the compost compacted bottoms 44 attached at suitable vertical positions if required, and then the pots inverted as a set, to stand upright, each pot now with a correctly placed seed. Further soil can be added beneath the plant as it develops, as described wherein.

To illustrate the facility to grow in nursery soil beds to commercial advantage, Figure 11 shows a basic growing tube, which in this case has a transparent, split outer shell 10 and a membrane chamber 17 which is shorter than the outer shell.

The growing tube is pressed lengthwise into a bed of compost soil and the inner chamber filled with soil into which a seed is sown, a small plant is planted or a plant with root bole from another growing pot has been trans ferred. The depth to which the outer shell is pressed into the soil bed would be determined by practical considerations such as soil composition, root structure, plant age e-tc.

The transparent outer shell provides a light, partially sheltered environment for early top growth, whereas the soil bed provides space for extended root growth.

When sufficient growth has taken place and the plant required for growing-on, the growing tube together with the lower root growth, is prised carefully from the soil bed and the root growth telescoped into the sleeve of the growing tube, with or without insertion of an additional membrane 161, by sliding the inner plant chamber upwards.

The upper plant growth is elevated out of the top-end of the transparent growing tube and further top growth encouraged until the plant is removed from the openable growing tube and planted in final position.

This may have advantages in over-wintering suitable perennial plants in outdoor seedbeds, offering some protection for cop-growth and allowing healthy root development without waterlogging. The upper growing pot sleeves could be surrounded and embedded in loose heat-retaining re-usable top-dressing material if necessary to protect against excess cold.

Claims (29)

1. A plant growing apparatus comprising at least one flexible sheet element for surrounding a volume of growing medium, and means for clipping or holding spaced linear regions of said sheet element to define a growing chamber, where s;id means for clipping or holding may be moved to adjust the position of said sheet element relative thereto.

2. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 1, including a plurality of flexible sheet elements movable relative to each other.

3. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for clipping or holding comprises a resiliently deformable hollow shell element defining an internal cavity into which the or each flexible sheet element and said growing medium may be introduced, the shell element having an elongate slot the edges of which engage the linear regions of the or each sheet element.

4. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said she]l element is generally of constant cross section.

5. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 3 or , wherein said shell element is of circular or polygonal cross-section.

6. A plant growing apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein said shell element is transparent or translucent.

7. A plant growing apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein said shell member is formed by extrusion and split along its length to provide said slot.

8. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said means for holding comprises an external sheath or clip which engages said spaced linear regions.

9. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one flexible shee-t element comprises a membrane of plastics or synthetic material.

10. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one sheet element is permeable.

11. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one sheet element is transparent or translucent.

12. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one sheet element includes heating means.

13. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one sheet element is configured in use in a generally tubular form and a base element is located within said sheet element.

14. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said base element comprises a flap integrally formed with said sheet element.

15. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said base element comprises a separately formed element locatable within said sheet element when in use.

16. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said sheet element is formed with a plurality of elements projecting or projectable inwardly in use to support said base element.

17. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein a series of rows of projections is provided whereby the base element may be located at different heights in the sheet element.

18. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein said projecting elements comprise tabs formed in said sheet element.

19. A plant growing apparatus according to any preceding claim, including partitioning means for partitioning the volume enclosed by said sheet element.

20. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said partitioning means comprises a helically wound barrier, wound to define between its turns a plurality of radially separated areas for root development.

21. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein said partitioning means is profiled to provide a contoured upper surface when located in said sheet element.

22. A plant growing apparatus according to any of Claims 19 to 21, including means for maintaining adjacent parts of said partitioning means thereof at a required spacing.

23. A plant growing apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said partitioning means partitions the volume enclosed by said sheet element into sub-compartments for separate plants.

24. A plant growing apparatus according to any of Claims 19 to 23, wherein said partitioning means is located in use by said growing medium, spaced from said sheet element.

25. A sheet element of flexible material having opposed regions for being brought together to define an elongate growing volume, said sheet element including a plurality of areas pre-stamped or otherwise locally weakened to allow portions of the sheet element to be caused to projec-t from the surrounding surface to provide projections on which a base element may be located.

26. A sheet element according to Claim 22, wherein said base element is integrally formed therewith.

27. A plant growing apparatus comprising an outer shell member arranged in use to surround and support a plug of growing medium, wherein said plug may be slid up or down with respect to said shell member.

28. A plant growing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore defined, with reference to and as il]ustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

29. A sheet element, substantially as hereinbefore defined, with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.