GB2353195A - Method and apparatus for growing plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for the germination and/or original growth of seedlings which comprises providing a substantially flat frame [1] comprising an array of polyhedral orifices [2], inserting a tube of biodegradable material in some or all of said orifices, placing the frame over a tray, removing said frame, thereby leaving the tubes to constitute an array in the tray, filling some or all of said tubes with dry compost, and then planting seeds, or transplanting seedlings in the compost-filled tubes.

Description

2353195 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROWING PLANTS This invention is

concerned with a method and apparatus for growing plants. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for carrying out the germination and the early stages in growth of plants.

When germinating and fostering the early stages in growth of plants, whether on a small scale, or on a larger commercial scale, it is conventional that the early stages are carried out in trays formed from thin plastic comprising an array of pots in which the germination and early stages of growth are carried out. Once these have been used, however, their general fragility ensures that 10 they are substantially impossible to re-use, so that they have to be scrapped. Because plastics are generally not biodegradable, this adds to the problem of garbage disposal. There is therefore a need for a method in which the plants can be germinated 15 and grown that makes use of biodegradable material, and may be repeatedly re-used. The present invention provides a solution to this problem by providing a means by which seeds may be germinated, and the early stages of growth fostered, 20 in biodegradable containers for the compot.

More particularly, the present invention provides a method for the germination and/or original growth of seedlings which comprises providing a substantially 2 flat frame comprising an array of polyhedral orifices, inserting a tube of biodegradable material in some or all of said orifices, placing the frame over a tray, removing said frame, thereby leaving the tubes to constitute an array in the tray, filling some or all of said tubes with dry compost, and then planting seeds, or transplanting seedlings in the compost-filled tubes.

In another embodiment, the invention provides apparatus for carrying out a method as described above comprising a substantially flat frame having an array of polyhedral orifices.

Further embodiments are set out in the subsequent Description.

The single Figure of the accompanying Drawing is a plan view of a frame illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

is In that Figure, the frame [11 is a substantially rectangular in shape having a substantially rectangular array of essentially square orifices [2]. The rectangular frame has a top [31 and sides [4, 4a]. A plurality of slits [51 is spaced along each of the two opposed sides [4, 4a] and said slits are located between the sides and the array of orifices. Each slit [51 is equidistant from the adjacent slit or slits.

Said array of orifices may, for instance, comprise a 3 x 5 array, or alternatively, it may have a larger number of orifices in the array, for instance, 3 4 x 7 or 6 x 10. The size of such orifices will depenil upon the number in the array. In a 3 x 5 array, adapted for use with a standard seed tray of 415 x 270 mm, each orifice may be 60 to 65 mm square. In a 4 x 7 array, again in a frame adapted to fit over a standard sized seed tray, they can be from 40 to 45 mm square. In a 6 x 10 array, they can be 28 to 32 mm square.

It is not essential to the invention that the orifices should be square in shape; they can be any polygonal shape, for instance, triangular, alternate triangles in each rank of the array being each triangle in one rank of the array having its base adjacent the vertex of the adjacent triangles. As another embodiment, the orifices could be hexagonal. For the sake of ease of manufacture, square orifices are preferred.

The frame itself may be formed from any suitable material, for instance, a plastics material suitable for injection moulding, such as polyolef in, polyamide, polyester, ABS polymer, etc.

The tubes of biodegradable material may be formed from any suitable biodegradable material, but a convenient form of biodegradable material is provided by unglazed paper, such as newspaper. Rolls formed from newspaper have the advantage that a sourcb of this material would be readily accessible in the home and easily biodegradable.

4 Suitable tubes may be formed either from broadsheet newspapers or tabloid newspapers. With broadsheet papers, suitable strips of material may be formed as follows:

1. Open the paper out flat and cut it along the centre fold 2. Place one half on top of the other.

3. Place clips on either side halfway down, to keep the paper still for cutting.

4. Place the frame over newspaper - newspaper is upright and the frame is horizontal, making sure that the frame is the right way up.

5. Ensure that the top of the frame is level with the top of the newspaper.

6. Mark the newspaper through each of the six slits, e.g using a felt tip or pencil.

7. Slide the frame down until the top is level with the first two marks and draw a line across, using the frame as a ruler.

8. Slide it down and mark the next two lines in the same way.

9. Cut across the top line first, then the other two to create even strips.

The cut can use scissors, but better results are achieved with a Stanley knife or scalpel which are able to cut much deeper piles of paper accurately.

10. The process is then repeated using the'other half of the newspaper.

With tabloid newspapers, strips may be prepared as follows:

1 Open the newspaper out flat.

2. Place clips on either side of the fold to keep it still for marking and cutting, 3. Place frame over newspaper - opened newspaper is upright and the frame is horizontal.

4. Follow steps 5 - 10 as before.

The tubes to fit within the orifices may be formed as follows:

Place the frame over a standard seed tray (or another container of convenient size).

2. Take two strips of newspaper (for small and medium frames - four strips when using the big frame) and roll them together loosely into a tube which f its into one of the orif ices of the f rame p ref erably beginning with the four corners. As each roll is inserted, it expands to fill the hole.

3. The paper should not be rolled so tightly that it loses its resiliency. It should be rolled to a size that is only slightly smaller than the holes in the frame - not tight - this is particularly important for the biggest size.

4. When all the holes have tubes in them, place one hand flat over the top of the tubes and with the other han d hold one long side of the frame and start to lift it slowly. As you do, pat the tubes down to ensure that they stay in the tray.

6 5. As soon as the frame is clear, the pots will spring together. A gentle shaking of the tray will complete it.

The tubes may be filled in the same way as would be used with E plastic seed tray of conventional type. Dry compost is poured over the top and then tamped down manually. The seeds can then be planted in the compost, or small seedlings may be transferred from growth material in which they have germinated.

Newspaper holds moisture and so it is found advantageously that less water need be used than is the case with conventional plastic trays. As the seeds germinate and the seedlings increase in size, the roots reach further down the tube. At such stage, the frequency of water may be reduced to allow the surface of the compost-filled tubes to dry out while the bottoms remain damp.

is This helps to reduce the risk of damping off. If desired, a cloche may be placed over the plants.

Seeds may be sown directly into the tubes, or seedlings or bought pot plants may be transferred for growing.

When planting out, root growth may make it possible to place the tubes into holes dibbed in the appropriate bed of soil, so that the tube can degrade.

Alteratively, if the roots have not yet reached the sides of the tube, the 7 newspaper or other tube material can be removed and left to biodegrade separately.

The frame is advantageously of such dimensions as to fit over a standard full sized seed tray, but if desired, it can be used in conjunction with any suitable tray, such as used plastic food trays, e.g. those used for packaging salad or meat. The frame can be placed over the container with only those fioles that are directly over the tray being filled. The cutting guides provided by the slits [51 are provided for standard seed trays, but the height of the tubes is governed by the depth of the tray used. If other shallow trays are employed, which are shallower than the standard trays, the strips may be cut shorter.

It is preferable that the tubes formed from the strips project by 5 to 8 mm above the sides of the tray. The individual cells, being easy to separate, means that different plants may be grown in the same tray, and planted out at separate times so that different varieties of plants may be grown in the same tray.

Claims (14)

1. A method for the germination andlor original growth of seedlings which comprises providing a substantially flat frame [11 comprising an array of polyhedral orifices [21, inserting a tube of biodegradable material in some or all of said orifices. placing the frame over a tray, removing said frame, thereby leaving the tubes to constitute an array in the tray, filling some or all of said tubes with dry compost, and then planting seeds, or transplanting seedlings in the compost-filied tubes.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the array of orifices is an array of square orifices.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the biodegradable tubes are formed from rolled newspaper.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the biodegradable tubes are formed from a plurality of layers of newspaper.

5. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the frame is rectangular with a top [31 and bottom [61, and is provided with a plurality of slits [51 along each of two opposed sides [4, 4al of said frame, said slits being located between said sides and said array of orifices [21, with each slit [51 being equidistant from the adjacent slit or slits.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5 as dependant from Claim 3 or 4 wherein said slits [51 are employed as guides to ensure cutting of strips of paper of substantially identical size, and said strips are then rolled to form said tu bes.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. Apparatus for carrying out a method according to Claim 1 comprising a substantially flat frame [1] having an array of polyhedral orifices [21.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said orifices are substantially square.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said square orifices constitute a rectangular array.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the frame is rectangular with a top [31 and bottom [61 and is provided with a plurality of slits [51 along each of two opposed sides [4, 4a], said slits being located between said sides and said array of orifices [21, with each slit [51 being equidistant from the adjacent slit or slits.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 11 comprising said frame and a tray adapted to fit under said frame.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 12 comprising a cloche adapted to fit over said frame.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 and substantially as hereinbefore described.