GB2464319A - Fleece bag for growing plants - Google Patents

Abstract

An enclosure for growing plants comprises a bagAwhich completely surrounds the plant/sD, the bag is made from horticultural fleece. The bag may have an openingBwhich is resealable. The enclosure may contain compostC. The enclosure may have a supporting structure. The enclosure may have a flexible non-porous under surface material in the base with small drainage holes, the sides of the base may be brought together at the corners and held in place by stitching or bonding, helping to conserve moisture.

Description

PLANT GROWING ENCLOSURE

A very simple, light, cheap to produce, out door plant growing enclosure, with a re-sealable opening, which is permeable to light and moisture, but impermeable to most other pests and weeds, designed for the organic home gardener.

This invention relates to growing plants sealed within a simple horticultural fleece enclosure to virtually eliminate pest attack.

When seedlings, vegetables and plants are grown they are often damaged, or destroyed by pests, such as slugs, especially when grown organically. Fleece is conventionally used to cover plants allowing weeds and pests to proliferate underneath it. Where plants are grown within a fleece enclosure, there is almost total elimination of pest attack and weeds.

Advantages I Virtually eliminates pest attack, especially by slugs, making it ideal for organic gardening.

2 The fleece bag enclosure is cheap to produce, light-weight, and simple to make. It can be folded into a package of very small volume for transportation.

3 Can use recycled materials.

4 Can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Very labour saving as it virtually eliminates pest treatment, weeding, and ground preparation.

Plants, such as salads are very clean. Also, reduced watering needed as fleece acts as mulch.

6 Can be used almost anywhere. Can be placed on bare earth, in a pot, on the surface of compost which is in a pot (most seed's roots will grow through the fleece into the compost substrate below the fleece), on a drainage tray, around a grow bag, or even on a gravel drive.

7 No gardening skill required, can be used by all ages and abilities.

8 A supportive structure can be added for protection of delicate seedlings in heavy rain or strong wind. The fleece can be supported by wire or canes to form attractive sculptures.

9 Fleece enclosures can be produced with different types of compost, specific to the growing needs of the plants.

Ideal for growing expensive salad leaf crops, especially cut and come again salad leaves, a fresher, cheaper, healthier, alternative to salad bags.

11 Roots emerging between the fleece fibres into the soil, compost, or gravel substrate below the fleece, self-seal to the fleece fibres as the fleece encircles each growing root, preventing most pest invasion of the enclosure. The roots absorb water and nutrients from the substrate beneath the fleece.

12 Harvesting can be very much easier in plants such as rocket, which can be grown through the fleece into compost or soil beneath without any soil or compost in the fleece enclosure at all.

Plants are pinned to the ground by the fleece and are much less likely to be dislodged by harvesting processes.

13 Seeds can be germinated and seedbeds established within an enclosure protected from weeds and pests.

Fleece is commonly used by gardeners to cover plants, protecting them from some pests. However pests such as slugs can get under the edge of the fleece, and also pests a living in the soil are able to flourish protected from predator attack by the fleece and weeds proliferate.

This invention is an improvement on products available now because it completely encloses the plants in fleece. Roots growing through between the fleece fibres to the substrate, self seal the fleece against pests as they grow, by squeezing between the fleece fibres. So pests such as slugs do not enter the sealed fleece enclosure.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a simple sealed fleece plant bag.

Figure 2 Shows a simple sealed fleece plant bag in cross section with salad leaf crops having grown to fill the space within the fleece bag are now ready to harvest.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the sealed fleece plant bag has an under surface made of flexible non-porous material with 1mm drainage holes pierced in it.

Figure 4 shows the method of pinching the corners of non-porous under-surface depicted in fig 2 to aid water retention.

Figure 5 shows a fleece bag as in figure 2 with a conventional grow bag within it.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment with an external wire support for the fleece bag.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment, a cane supported fleece enclosure placed in a pot.

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment, a "bubble" fleece enclosure with flexible external supporting structure.

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment fleece enclosure using no compost, where fleece sits on the substrate.

Each of these will now be described in detail.

Figure 1 The very simple fleece bag in figure 1.Can be used for a seed bed or for germinating and growing baby salad leaves, for cut and come again salads or for propagating cuttings. It is ideal for normal or wet weather conditions, allowing for excellent drainage, and is constructed by folding a single piece of fleece to form a rectangle of two fleece layers and sewing or bonding, it along all sides to form a sealed fleece bag A', Lighter, less dense, fleece can be used where visibility of plants is important, and for winter crops where it is necessary to maximise light levels. Heavier fleece is good for growing lettuces in summer in full sun to reduce light levels. Heavier fleece is also more durable. A slit is cut in one side of the fleece bag in the centre line to accommodate a closure, B' such as Velcro or a sliding closure. Velcro can be stitched or bonded in place. Compost, C' can be placed inside the fleece bag specific to the requirements of the plants, seeds or cuttings to be grown D'.

The fleece bag can be placed on weed-free earth E', or on gravel or on drainage tray on the patio in sunlight.The sealed fleece enclosure is supported by the plants D' as they grow to fill the bag.The compost C' provides nutrient requirements and anchorage for the growing plants. Moisture can be absorbed from the earth, E'. Roots can grow through the fleece into the earth, E'. The fleece acts as mulch, retaining moisture in the compost and the earth. Plants can be accessed via the re-sealable closure, B'.

Figure 2 As the plants grow their leaves support the fleece as shown in figure 2.This figure also shows roots growing through the compost within the fleece enclosure to compost soil or gravel beyond the fleece squeezing between fleece fibres as they grow. Thus enclosure remains sealed against pest attack. A' fleece bag, B' re-sealable opening, D', leaves filling out enclosure, R', roots growing through compost and between fleece fibres to compost or soil beneath. E', Earth.

Figure 3 Shows an alternative embodiment of the simple fleece bag, designed for conserving moisture, with a flexible non-porous under surface material with tiny drainage holes (1mm diameter approx, to prevent pest entry.) To help reduce water loss, the sides are brought together at the corners (pinching the corners) and held in place by stitching along the top of the corner or bonding with heat as shown in figure 2"X" Figure 4 shows the method of pinching the corners H' and sewing/bonding the corners J' to hold them in place.

Figure 5 Shows a fleece bag being used in conjunction with a conventional plastic grow bag. A compost filled conventional plastic grow bag is placed inside the sealed fleece bag. In this case the Velcro /alternative closure is placed along the junction of under surface and fleece upper layer and extends along three sides of the fleece bag from Y' to Z'. This allows for the fleece bag to be completely opened up and the grow bag placed inside it with out difficulty. A' is fleece; B' is Velcro or alternative closure C' is compost D' is plants, R' is plant roots. Cuttings or seeds in trays, small plant pots, seed cells and root trainers could also be placed in a fleece enclosure for pest protection.

Figure 6 Shows an alternative embodiment, a fleece enclosure A' with supporting framework in the form of a single length of heavy weight gardening wire, plastic tubing, or plastic flexible rod, which is anchored by pushing it into the earth at S' at the mid point of each of the shorter sides of the fleece bag arching over the long length of the fleece bag in the midline, and attached to the fleece with duct tape, or similar, water proof tape or passing it through a fabric loop attached to the fleece bag or tying with a tie to the fleece bag T'. Thus the fleece is lifted off the germinating seedlings or plants D'. This would be of use for delicate seedlings or for use in bad weather, as the fleece does not buffet plants. Closure B'. Wire support W'. Earth E'.

Figure 7 Shows an alternative embodiment, a fleece enclosure A' with supporting framework in the form of a cane K' plunged into the compost C' in the centre of a pot P' or into the ground.If using a pot first of all drainage material Q' is placed in the pot, such as vermiculite (100% natural), perlite (100% natural) rounded pebbles, gravel or polystyrene (light weight). Fleece bag is placed onto the drainage material and cane used to support it in the centre of the pot. An opening B' allows access to the plants D' .A piece of fabric J' covers the cane tip to prevent snagging of the fleece. R' plant roots Figure 8 Shows an alternative embodiment a fleece enclosure with supporting structure in the form of wires threaded through sewn pockets in the fleece. W' is wire support. A' is fleece bag extending into the pot P'. B' is the re-sealable closure, D' the plants,'Q' the drainage material.

Figure 9 Shows an alternative embodiment with fleece enclosure placed on the surface of the compost with just the seeds and no compost within it. The fleece is held fairly taut over the substrate. A firm garden wire can be used, W', threaded through the fleece between two seams and fitted over the top edge of the pot, around the circumference. Seeds such as rocket will germinate on the surface of the fleece and grow between the fleece fibres to the substrate. This means that the plants are held very firmly, pinned to the soil by the fleece. When picking the leaves the roots are much less likely to be dislodged. There is very effective mulching of soil/compost. Note Q', waterproof tape seals the fleece to cane K'. Re-sealable opening B'. Plants D'. Roots R' growing between fleece fibres into substrate of compost or soil.

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS1.An enclosure in which plants can be grown and seeds germinated, which comprises horticultural fleece sealed to form an enclosure which completely surrounds the growing plants acting as a barrier to most pests and weeds.
2. 2 An enclosure as in claim 1 in which the fleece has a re-sealable opening.
3. 3. An enclosure as in claim 2 in which the fleece has a supporting structure.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMSClaim 5. A method of growing plants, seeds, and cuttings, sealed within a bag, which comprises a simple bag made with a porous, light permeable, ultra lightweight, moisture permeable, ultra flexible material, such as horticultural fleece, which has a re-sealable opening, where sterile compost is placed directly into the bag, so that the compost is in direct contact with the bag, and then seeds, and or plants, and or cuttings can be placed in the compost and the bag can be re-sealed and watered, and then the plants can grow supporting the fleece with their leaves so there is not usually any need for any other support, and some of the plant's roots may grow between the fibres of the material from which the bag is made and these roots seal the spaces between the fibres of the material from which the bag is made and the roots help to absorb moisture.Claim 6. As in claim 1 where the bag is made in a rectangular shape simply out of a double layer of material sealed at it's perimeter edges and with a re-sealable opening placed lengthwise and approximately equidistant between the two shorter sides, and where the re-sealable opening extends for most of the length of the bag, and is placed in one of the flat surfaces of the bag Claim 7.As in claim 5, or 6, where the bag is placed flat, onto weed free earth, compost may be added, watered, and plants allowed to grow and plants harvested when required.Claim 8 As in claim 5, or 6, or, 7, ef-8, where the bag is used to grow and harvest cut and come again' salad leaves and baby salad leaves, where seeds are scattered in the compost in a block rather than in rows.Claim 9. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, where the bag can be retailed, stored, and transported, folded into a package of very small volume.Claim 10. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, where the re-sealable opening in the bag is sealed with a narrow strip of Velcro.Claim 11. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, where the re-sealable opening is sealed with a slider zipper.Claim 12. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7 or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, where compressed, dehydrated compost and seeds are placed in the bag, and the bag is placed on weed free earth, and the bag is watered, and plants harvested when required.Claim 14. As in claim 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, or 10, or 11, or 12, where the bag is placed in a trench in the ground, for moisture retention and to give support and depth for root growth such as for carrots.Claim IS. As in claimS, or 6, or 7, or 8 or 9, or 10, or 11, or,l2 or 13, where the bag is .. : made with a reinforced lower section, or the lower section is made of flexible plastic, and *1* where the bag is made so that a conventional grow bag will fit inside it and allow plenty of * room for the plants to grow and where the closure is positioned along the peripheral edges of three sides of the bag so that it can be opened out flat allowing easy placement of the conventional grow bag within it.Claim 16. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, where watercress * seeds or cuttings are placed in the bag and the bag is placed in water or on wet earth.Claim 17. As in claim 5,or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, where * .-. the bag is supported externally using a flexible support arched over the bag and a system of * attaching the bag to the support such as using ties or tabs.* Claim 18. As in claimS, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, orl2, or 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, where the bag is used as an alternative to a raised bed in the vegetable garden.Claim 19. As in claim 5,or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, or 17, where a drainage tray is placed under the fleece bag so that it can be placed on a hard surface.Claim 20. As in claim 14, where the drainage tray is made of a very flexible, impervious material such as plastic so that it can be folded to take up a very small volume of space.Claim 21. As in claim 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, or 17, or 18, or 19, where the bag is used as a seed bed. *..S * ** S * -I. * S S. *S I** * S*S SSS * .S * **S* * a)S)