NL8103406A - Non-translucent plant growing container - has bottom walls and cover of rigid heat-insulating material - Google Patents

Abstract

The container for growing plants comprises a rectangular trough accommodating growth material, and a cover with apertures for the plants rooted in the material. Both trough and cover are of non-translucent material. The bottom and walls of the trough, and the cover, are of rigid heat-insulating material, the cover (2) forming a sealed joint where it fits onto or into the top edges of the trough (1). The cover can be rectangular, with an opening (6) extending from each end in the middle.

Description

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Container for growing plants.

The invention relates to a container for growing plants, consisting of a parallelepiped-shaped container, intended for accommodating a plant-growing substrate and a lid closing the container, which is provided with openings for passage of 5 plants to be cultivated, of which the roots extend into the substrate, with both the tray and the lid made of impermeable material. Such a container is known from Dutch patent application 7705663.

The tray hereby consists of relatively weak material, the lid providing stiffening of the tray.

The tray is filled with a plant culture substrate of any suitable type and the plants to be grown are pressed into the lid with the roots to be cultivated by means of opening.

The presence of the lid has the advantages that the substrate does not dry out too quickly, cannot fall out of the tray, that no algae formation occurs and that the roots are prevented from burning. Drainage openings can be or have been provided in the walls of the tray. for removing excess water.

Water and fertilizers can be supplied through openings in the lid.

This known container is intended to replace flower boxes used by private individuals.

The object of the invention is to provide a professional container which can be used by growers in greenhouses or on cold ground for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, in particular, although the invention is not limited thereto.

By growing these crops in such containers, it is no longer necessary to disinfect the soil chemically or by steaming.

The container according to the invention is characterized in that the bottom and the walls of the tray and the lid each consist of a rigid heat-insulating material, the lid sealingly fitting on and / or in the top edges of the upright walls of the tray .

The container according to the invention thus consists of a rigid insulated container and a rigid insulated lid. When growing above soil, such insulation is of great importance, not only in connection with the strongly increased energy costs, but also in order to keep the temperature in the container as constant as possible. Moreover, this makes it very easy to control the temperature in the container. The container can be heated and / or cooled using 8103406 2 ν'- * by phasing agents.

The boxes are rigid enough to be used as an internal or external transport medium.

Preferably, the openings in the lid extend from two opposite sides of the lid.

Contrary to the known container, the application of the cultivating plants does not therefore have to take place via the openings in the lid. In the container according to the invention, generally the press pots or the like, the plants are placed on the substrate layer in the tray 10, near the walls where the openings in the lid are located. Generally, each bin contains two plants near the end walls of the bin.

During the first period, for example several weeks, the plants can grow up without a lid, the trays being placed close together for a smaller surface area. which also saves energy.

After this first phase, the lids can be fitted, with the plank parts protruding from the tray being received in the openings in the lid.

The trays are then spaced longitudinally so that the spacings between the plants become equal.

Preferably aligned openings are provided in two opposing walls of the trough near the top edges thereof for passage of a heating resp. cooling hose and / or 25 of an irrigation system.

The supply of water and fertilizers or other substances can also take place via the drip system which is known per se and which is already present in many greenhouses, whereby hoses are passed through openings or to be made in the lid.

30 The drainage openings in the container ensure that excess water is drained.

After cultivation, the containers must be able to be stored in the smallest possible space for a certain period of time. It is therefore necessary that the largest number of trays fit together in the smallest possible space. In the same way as with auction boxes, four boxes can be joined together. However, according to the invention it is possible to nest eight trays, because about half use trays with a larger base and about half trays with a smaller bottom surface, whereby a tray with a smaller bottom surface fits in empty condition. in a container with a larger bottom area.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which the invention is further elucidated with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention containing two plants; and Fig. E shows the nesting of eight trays when empty.

Fig. 1 shows a parallelepiped-shaped tray 1 with a lid 2. For example, the box has a length of 700 mm, a width of 300 mm and a height of 300 mm. The thickness is, for example, 20 mm.

These are practical values, but the invention is not limited thereto.

For example, the lid 2 is also 20 mm thick and can close the bin 1 as well as possible.

To that end, the top edge of the tray 1 and / or the edge of the lid 2 can be stepped, or the lid 2 can fall entirely into the tray 1 and rest on protrusions or the like in the tray 1.

The tray 1 and the lid 2 preferably consist of white styrofoam, a hard plastic foam.

Drainage openings 3 are arranged in the container 1, for instance 20 mm above the bottom.

A layer of plant culture substrate 4-, of any known type, is applied to the bottom of the tray 1.

Two plants 5 to be cultivated are placed, preferably with the roots in press pots, on the substrate layer 4, near the end walls of the tray 1.

For a few weeks the bins 1 are placed together and the plants 5 are allowed to grow up with the aid of water and fertilizers in open bins 1.

The trays 1 are then slid apart in rows on tables or the like, such that all plants in a certain row have the same distance. Walkways remain between the rows.

In the cover 2, openings 6 are present on the front sides. When the lid 2 is fitted, the plants 5 extend through the openings 6.

Due to the insulated earth of the containers 1, 2, the temperature in the interior remains as constant as possible over the course 8103406

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4 of the day and night. Moreover, it is possible to connect the containers to a heating and / or cooling system, consisting of a hose through which water or the like is passed.

This hose is indicated by 7 in Fig. 1 and extends through 5 openings 8 near the top sides of the end walls of the tray 1. Such a hose passes through all containers in one row and then back through the next row. , and so on.

In this way it is possible to control the temperature very precisely.

9 denotes hoses, which can be connected to an existing drip pipe in the greenhouse, which hoses extend through openings in the lid 2 and can supply water and / or fertilizers.

Due to the insulation and constant temperature of the containers, evaporation is low, so little water is required.

15 Because the container is light-tight, there is no growth and burning of the roots.

Because the containers preferably consist of white material, air reflection is created, which promotes the growth of the plants.

After the culture, the substrate can be discarded or optionally cleaned. The containers are disinfected.

The bins usually have to be stored temporarily.

To make this storage possible in the smallest possible space, two types of containers are used, one of which has a slightly smaller bottom surface, so that two bins always fit together.

In this way, 8 trays 1 can be nested, in the manner according to fig.

2.

Due to the nature of the material, the containers are inexpensive to manufacture, yet they are sufficiently sturdy for transport, use and storage.

30 8103406

Claims (8)

A container for growing plants, consisting of a parallelepiped-shaped trough, intended for accommodating a plant breeding sub-trate and a lid closing the trough, provided with openings for the passage of plants to be cultivated, of which the roots are located extend into the substrate, wherein both the tray and the lid are of impermeable material, characterized in that the bottom and the walls of the tray and the lid each consist of a rigid heat-insulating material, the lid being sealing fits on and / or in the top edges of the upright walls of the box. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings in the lid extend from two opposite sides of the lid. 3. Container according to claim 2, with a rectangular lid, characterized in that an opening is present in the middle of each end face of the lid. Container according to claim 1, 2 or 3. characterized in that the tray and the lid consist of hard plastic foam with a thickness of 15 - 25, preferably + 20 mm. 5. Container as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that in two opposite walls of the container, in-line openings are provided near the top edges thereof for the passage of a heating resp. cooling hose and / or of an irrigation system. 6. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in any case the outer surface of the lid is as light-reflecting as possible. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that in any case the outer surface of the lid is white. 8. Device for growing plants 1 containers according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that this device makes use of a number of containers, namely for Half a half with a larger one and about half with a larger one. smaller ground area, where a bin with a smaller ground area 35 when empty fits into a bin with a larger ground area and wherein the length, width and height of the bins are coordinated such that between four standing on a front side, with the open empty trays facing each other, four standing on a long side 8103406 with the open sides facing each other can be accommodated. 8103406