IE44754B1 - A method and means for cultivating plants - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and means for cultivating plants, in particular vegetables, fruit and bedding plants.

. . Plant growth containers of the kind comprising an elongated plastics ; < sack containing a peat-based plant growth medium, and commonly referred to as “growing bags are now frequently used in commercial horticulture, particularly v in glasshouses. .In use, the growing bags, which are generally of pillow-shape, . are laid end to end, in rows, along the length of the glasshouse. Apertures are cut in the top wall of each bag .'id the plants are grown through the apertures.

This method is particularly suitable for growing tomatoes, for example, but : suffers from the disadvantage that intensive cropping is rarely possible because of the horizontal position of the bags,’ and furthermore full utilisation of the glasshouse space is not achieved.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and means whereby plants may be grown in plant growth containers which may be disposed in .·. positions other than horizontal. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method and means particularly suitable for the outdoor growing of. plants in dry climates.

According to the invention there is provided a support for a plant . growth container, said support comprising an elongated channel-shaped substantially •20 rigid member intended to receive and support a flexible elongated tubular container containing a plant growth medium, and said channel-shaped member having a plurality of steps or ribs which extend upwardly from the floor of the channel-shaped member pointed and/or sharpened so as to be at spaced intervals along the length of the member, and which are/adapted:to penetrate the wall of an aforesaid flexible elongated tubular container. Prefer. 25 ably, the support member is semi-circular or U-shaped in cross-section, and is adapted to support a plant growth container which, preferably is of substantially circular cross-section but v/hich may be of other suitable shapes. The support member may be of any suitable material, for example, metal. Preferably, however, the support member is extruded from a plastics material, for example, p.v.c., and / , f - 2 / suitably it is white in colour so as to give maximum light reflection. The steps or ribs may be attached to the support member by snap-fit engagement or they may be adhered to the member, or integrally moulded with the member. Preferably, the steps or ribs have a base portion extending all or partly across the interior face of the member, and a front portion which is sharpened or pointed. The pointed ribs are adapted to pierce the wall of the tubular container and to hold it in place.

A number of embodiments of the method and means according to the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a support member according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view in the direction of the arrow of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support member of Figure 1 showing a tubular growing bag in place; Figure 4 is an end elevation of a greenhouse illustrating one method of using the support; Figure 5 is a front elevation cf three support members in position in the greenhouse; Figure 6 is a perspective view of means for cultivating plants outdoors, according to the invention, and Figures 7 to 14 are perspective and end views, respectively, of other embodiments of support members according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a support for a plant growth container comprises an elongated channel-shaped member 1 which is extruded from a plastics material such as p.v.c. The channel-shaped member may be similar in shape to a conventional gutter and suitably is about 6 ft. in length and has a diameter of about 3$ inches. Preferably, the member 1 is provided with a series of ribs 2 which are substantially triangular in shape, and which are attached by their base portion to the floor of the channel and extend - 3 .44754 outwardly at right-angles thereto. The apex of each rib 2 is pointed. The ribs 2 are disposed at about 12 inch intervals along the length of the channel and are either moulded integrally in the member, as shown in the drawings, or are attached thereto by means of a flange portion 3 of the rib which is sufficiently flexible to act in snap-fit engagement with inwardly turned rim portions 4 on the peripheral edges of the member 1. As shown in Figure 3, the member 1 is adapted to receive and support an elongated tubular container 5. Ihe container 5 is made from a suitable plasticp material such as p.v.c. or a polyalkylene. Suitably, the bag is substantially circular in cross-section and may have a diameter of about 3£ and a length of about 6 ft. The bag is tightly filled with a plant growth medium, such as a peat-based compost. The rib·; 2 penetrate the wall of the bag and so help to retain the bag in position in Ihe member 1 and also prevent the peat from . moving downwardly in the bag when the big is held in an inclined position.

Figure 3 shows the growing of plants, in this case strawberry plants, T5 in the bag 5. The plants are grown through apertures 6 cut in the front wall of the bag. Preferably, the plants a;x fed by a trickle feed system in-which the water is fed, by means of capillary tubing (not shown) to the top of a strip of capillary matting .(not shown) which is positioned between the back of the tubular bag 5 and the floorof the channel member 1. The water travels downwardly through 1 the matting but is intercepted at intervals by the ribs 2 which cause the water to enter the tubular bag through the apertures cut by the pointed ends of the ribs 2.

. Alternatively, the water may be fed directly to the growing medium, in the bag through an aperture at the top of the bag or, by means of capillary tubing, through the apertures 6 in the face of the bag. Preferably, the growing medium contains sufficient nutrients to feed the plant during its lifetime. However, feeding or supplementary feeding may be effected by supplying liquid nutrients through the irrigation system described above. As shown in Figure 1, the lowermost rib 2 may be provided with an outlet aperture 7 to permit any surplus water or liquid feed to escape, and, if necessary to be recycled. - 4 Many other varieties of fruit and vegetables may be grown as shown, . in Figure 3, for example, onions, lettuce, parsley, peas, beans and the like.

Another embodiment of a method of growing and training plants according to the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. Referring first to Figure 4, a plurality of support members 1, each containing a tubular plant growth container 5 are arranged in rows along the length of a glasshouse 10. Each member 1 is disposed in an upstanding position or. its end at an angle of between about 30° and 60° to the horizontal. A support wire 11 runs along the length of the greenhouse above each row of support members 1 and each member 1 is attached to the wire by means of a wire hook or the like (not shown). Suitably the support members 1 are spaced at 14 inch intervals along the rows.

When the members 1 are in position, holes are cut in the outer wall of each plant growth container 5, and the plants are planted through the holes in the same manner as with conventional growing bags. In the case of tomato plants, for example, up to six plants may be grown in each container.

A method of training tomato plants according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 4, which shows three support members 1, each having a container 5, forming part of a row. For the sake of clarity, the tomato plants are shown growing in one container 5 only, although it will be appreciated that tomato plants are grown in a similar manner in the other two containers shown in Figure 5. Each tomato plant 13 is planted through a hole 14 cut in the container 5. Each container 5 may have up to six plants planted therein at intervals of about 12 inches. During the initial establishment of the plants they may each be supported by means of a U-shaped wire clip 15 about 4 long, which penetrates the bags 5. As the plants grow the stems are trained sideways along the row and when the stem is about 2 in length it is pinned to the neighbouring container 5a by means of the cVp 15. When the stem is about 4‘ in length the clips 15 are removed from the container 5a and the plant stems are then pinned to next container 5b in the row. - 5 44754 By this method intensive cropping of the tomatoes is obtained as it will be appreciated that there are up to six or more plants occupying a space Which would be occupied by only one plant in the conventional method of growing tomatoes. However, in view of the fact that each growth container 5 contains only about J cubic ft. of compost, each plant is grown to three trusses only.

When the three trusses have been harvested the growth container 5 and the spent plants may be discarded and, if desired, a second crop of tomatoes may then be .grown in the same manner.

Watering and feeding of tha plants may be carried out in the ; conventional manner by means of capillary tubes inserted in each container . Preferably, however, a sheet of capillary matting is interposed between each container 5 and its support member 1. Water is fed to the matting at the top of each support member 1 and trickles dawn through the matting between the rear wall of the container 5 and the support member 1. The water is absorbed by the peat through apertures of about 5 iameter cut in the back wall of each container. As mentioned previously, the steps or ribs 2 have a sharp outer edge which penetrates the rear wall of the container. These steps 2, which may be about 2“ deep, tend to retain the water and allow it to enter the bag through the penetrations.

It will be appreciated that the method of the invention offers a number of advantages over conventional g-owing methods. In the first place full utilisation of the glasshouse space is oitained and intensive cropping is possible. By running the heating pipes 20 (see Figure 4) under the inclined supports maximum utilisation of the heat is obtained. The triangular formation of the rows ensures that the plants receive the maximum light available, and clear spaces are left between the rows which facilitates harvesting the crop.

The invention also offers advantages for the intensive growing of plants outdoors, particularly in dry arid areas. One method for cultivating vegetables in arid areas by means of the invention is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. In accordance with this method, large earthen drills 20 are - 6 44754 fomted in the surface of the earth. A series of the drills 20 are disposed parallel to each other and are spaced apart a distance of, for example, 4 m. to leave bays 21 which are sufficiently wide to accommodate a tractor and trailer. The drills 20 may have a vertical height at their apex of, for example, 0.5 to 0.75 m. The length of each sloping side of the drill, i.e. from the apex to the base, may be in the region of 2.0 m. The drills 20 themselves may be of any desired length. Preferably, the sloping sides of the drills are covered by sheets of plastics material (not shown), v/hich suitably is white in colour.

A plurality of channel-shaped support members 1 of the invention, each holding a tubular growing container 5, are laid at spaced intervals along the sloping sides of the drills, and plants are grown through growing apertures as described previously. It will be appreciated that the support members 1 are thus disposed at an angle of approximately 15° to the horizontal, and so obtain maximum light. A strip of capillary matting material is placed between each tubular growing container 5 and the inner face of the support member 1. The lower end of each support member 1 is closed by means of the lowermost rib 2 or a semi-circular stop plate (not shown). The lowermost rib 2 or the stop plate are provided with an outlet aperture 7 as described previously. The strip of capillary matting is turned out at the bottom of the container and covers the stop plate and the outlet 7. Watering and feeding of the plants is carried out by means of a capillary irrigation system. Preferably a main irrigation line 23 runs along the apex of each drill. Capillary tubes 24 are connected to the line 23 at intervals and lead to the top of the capillary matting strips. The water flows downwardly through the matting strips between the rear wall of the container 5 and the support member 1. The water flow is retarded by the ribs 2 which encourage the water to flow into the containers through apertures in the back wall of the containers, where it is absorbed by the peat-based growing medium. It will be appreciated that in arid countries water conservation is essential and so any surplus water is collected at the bottom of the support member 1 by means of the stop plate. This surplus water flows through the turned out portion of the matting strip, which acts as a filter, and out through an outlet pipe 25 which is positioned in the outlet 7 in the stop plate. Each .5 outlet pipe 25 feeds into a return pipe ’6 whereby the surplus water may be recycled. Because of the fact that the capillary matting is essentially enclosed and by making the growing apertures as small as possible, evapotranspiration is kept to a minimum.

The aforesaid cultivation method is particularly suitable for . continuous intensive cropping of vegetables such as potatoes, for example. When used for growing potatoes or other relatively large root crops, the growing containers 5, preferably, are of a diameter of between 6“ to 8. The seed potatoes may be planted in the containers indoors, at the time when the containers are filled with the growing medium. The containers 5, with the seed potatoes ]5 in place, are then transported outdoors to the drills, and are placed in the support members 1 which are already in position. When the crop is mature, the containers 5 are removed from the support members 1 and transported to a grading shed where the potatoes are removed from the growing medium and graded in a single operation. The growing medium is then treated with suitable nutrients, and can be recycled for use in. fresh growing containers. In this way, both planting and harvesting is carried out indoors which offers a number of advantages.

It will be appreciated that the method is not limited to the growing of any particular kind of fruit, vegetables or flowers. The method and apparatus of the invention may also be used in both amateur and professional horticulture.

Figures 7 to 14 serve to illustrate a number of alternative shapes the support member 1 and the ribs 2 may take.

Claims (12)

1. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A support for a plant growth container , said support comprising an elongated channel-shaped substantially rigid memberintended to receive and support a flexible elongated tubular container containing a plant growth medium, and said channel-shaped member having a plurality of steps or ribs which extend upwardly from the floor of the channel-shaped member at spaced intervals along the length pointed and/or sharpened so as to be of the member, and which are Adapted to penetrate the wall of an aforesaid flexible elongated tubular container.

2. A support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the elongated member is semi-circuiar or substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

3. A support as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the steps or ribs have an outer portion which is pointed and/or sharpened, steps or

4. A support as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the^ribs are substantially triangular in shape, and are attached by a base portion thereof to the floor Of the channel-shaped member, and extend outwardly from the floorof the channelshaped member at anproximately right-angles thereto.

5. A support as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the steps or ribs are in snap-fit engagement with the interior of the channel-shaped member.

6. A support as claimed in any of the preceding claims in combination with a flexible elongated tubular container containing a plant growth medium.

7. A support as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a strip of capillary matting is placed between the back of the tubular container and the floorof the channelshaped member, and the ribs or steps penetrate said strip and the wall of the bag.

8. A support for a plant growth container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

9. A support for a plant growth container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 7 to 14 of the drawings.

10. A method of growing plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings. - 9 »*·<** Π. A method of growing plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.

11.

12. A method of growing plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings.