Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
  • A01G9/022—Pots for vertical horticulture
  • A01G9/025—Containers and elements for greening walls
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
  • A01G9/022—Pots for vertical horticulture
  • A01G9/023—Multi-tiered planters
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
  • Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an arrangement in plant columns of the type stated in the claims.
• Swedish patent specification 363,960 discloses an arrangement for so-called vertical growing of plants, which consists of a column-shaped container com ⁇ prising a plurality of interconnectible elements and having a number of apertures which are defined downwards by outwardly folded margins.
• the container is filled with soil, and seeds or plants can be put to grow in the apertures with the outwardly folded margins.
• British patent aplication 2,254,414 discloses a similar arrange- ent which also consists of a column-shaped container which can be filled with soil and has a plurality of apertures. In contrast to the arrangement according to the first-mentioned publication, this one has no outwardly folded margin.
• a panel of material which is partly separated as the aperture is being made is folded back so as to form an inwardly inclined flap which up- • wardly defines a cavity in the soil directly opposite the aperture, such that inside the lower margin of the aperture a substantially horizontal soil surface can be provided.
• the prior art arrangements are adapted to be free ⁇ standing and consequently have apertures on every side.
• One object of the invention thus is to render replanting of plants possible which have been pregrown on a horizontal surface and have different root-ball systems, to a plant column, without the root system of the plant being affected by the replanting operation and without the new surroundings disturbing the root system.
• ground or floor surface is better utilised. Also in view of the plants' require ⁇ ments for light and air around the unit for vertical growing of plants, the required ground or floor surface is considerably smaller than the soil surface offered by the same unit or column for vertical growing of plants. In horizontal growing, the ground surface needed and the soil surface are the same size.
• a plant column or a unit for vertical growing and its usable soil surface provide for a larger number of growin positions, i.e. accommodate more plants than the same soil surface would allow in normal horizontal growing.
• the limited soil volume in a plant column makes it possible to accurately check the temperature of the growing substrate and to keep it higher than the tempera ⁇ ture of the ground in horizontal growing. This difference in temperature promotes growth and results in earlier and better crops.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a so-called plant column which can be free-standing or dis ⁇ posed adjacent a wall and is adapted to directly receive pregrown plants without replanting, both plants culti ⁇ vated in pots made of, for example, compressed peat ma ⁇ terial or cellulose, or in mesh material pots, and plants cultivated in a bed in tubular containers whose both ends are open.
• Pregrowing is effected horizontally in conventional manner on small surfaces where sunlight or artificial light can be used for forcing purposes. Forcing of plants requires minimal spaces for the individual plants and can be carried out on an industrial scale for delivery to individual growers or consumers. Pregrowing occurs in small pots or cups of compressed peat material, cellulose, mesh material or the like, or in tubular sleeves filled with substrate and open in both ends. Such pots, sleeves and the like can also be made of paper-based material, plastics or the like and serve merely to hold together the root system of each plant and separate the plant from neighbouring plants.
• pregrown plants can be directly inserted in the plant column, without removal of the pot or sleeve, the risk that the plant is subjected to a shock due to such replanting, is eliminated, and the plant con ⁇ tinues to grow immediately in the new position.
• Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a so-called plant column in a first embodiment
• Fig. 2 shows a portion of a second embodiment of the plant column as seen obliquely from one side
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the centre- of one of the tubular inserts in the embodiment shown" in Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 is a front view of a further embodiment
• Fig. 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, partly in section.
• the actual plant column is made of flat and, respect ⁇ ively, curved panels 1 of sheet material, which by means of locking strips enclosing projecting edges 2, or by means of screw joints, gluing or the like can be joined together to circular, semicircular or polygonal columns.
• the side of each panel facing the interior of the column is formed with grooves adapted to support substantially horizontal plates or partitions of which the lower one carries substrate material, soil and the like.
• a water container for watering can be arranged, and a lid for preventing evaporation is suitabl arranged above the water container at the end of the column.
• the column can be attached to or supported by a pos- teriorly situated wall. If the column is positioned ad ⁇ jacent a wall, the rear side is formed of a flat panel 3, and an impermeable bottom is arranged at the lower end of the column and provided with a drain cock or plug for drained water and for checking that the substrate is sa- turated.
• the joint between the wall panel and the column as such should be designed to eliminate the risk that water and substrate leak out.
• the joining together can be effected by means of U-shaped clamping strips whic can be supplemented with rivets, screws or like means, and a suitable jointing compound, adhesive or the like.
• the column can advantageously be free-standing and then comprises, instead of a flat rear side 3, one more curved panel 1, such that the column is substantially circular in cross-section.
• Openings in the plant column which below are called plant pockets 4 can be arranged in various ways.
• each of a plurality of openings 5 formed in the panel 1 of the plant column is downwardly defined by a flap-shaped curved por ⁇ tion 6 which extends obliquely upwards and outwards and forms a balcony-like projection, and is upwardly defined by a flap-shaped portion 7 which is also conveniently curved and extends obliquely downwards and inwards.
• the lower portion 6 forms a support for the root-ball of the plant and/or the peat pot or the like surrounding the same, while the upper portion 7 forms a support for the substrate inside the column, thereby preventing the sub- strate from falling out through the opening 5.
• the two curved portions 6, 7 which downwardly and upwardly define the openings are suitably integrated with the panel in that the material - if it is thermoplastic - is somewhat heated and. bent.
• the material - if it is thermoplastic - is somewhat heated and. bent.
• the arcu- ately curved panel 1 forming the actual plant column is provided with a large number of oval or non-circular holes 8 in which short tubular members 9 which are inclined obliquely upwards, are inserted and secured.
• the dimen ⁇ sions and the shape of the edges defining the holes 8 in relation to the pipe dimension determine the direction of the pipe member.
• the tubular members 9 are at the top and at the bottom formed with slits or projections 10, 11 which are relatively offset in the axial direction.
• a projecting curved portion which forms a support for the root-ball of the plant, optionally with a pot or pipe, and the space in the column is inwardly and upwardly defined, whereby the substrate is prevented from falling out through the hole before insertion of a plant.
• the axial length of the pipe is- adapted such that a plant inserted therein comes into contact, as intended, with the substrate in the plant column.
• the pipes 9 together with the plant and the root-ball with its clod of substrate can be directly inserted in the plant column where the plant continues to grow.
• the' plant column can be maximally utilised, since one set can be used for pregrowing of plants, while another set is po ⁇ sitioned in the plant column etc.
• the above-mentioned pipes need not necessarily be precisely tubular, but can in some cases be replaced by- U- shaped channels, whereby the upper fixing means 10 is omitted and replaced by notches formed in the edges of th U-shaped member, said notches engaging the side portions of the edge of the respective hole.
• a plant column consisting of two sections allows culturing of plants of different types and having diffe ⁇ rent substrate requirements, even plants which in their root system produce substances having a detrimental effect on other plants.
• the column is divided by means of an impermeable vertical boundary panel which is similar to, for example, the panel 3 and is dis ⁇ posed between the two sections 1 before joining thereof.
• Figs 4 and 5 is advantageously made of a formable sheet or panel material 1 which by vacuum forming is given the intended shape.
• the major part of the plant column can however in this embodiment be formed by injection moulding.
• a plurality of apertures 5 are formed in the curved part 1 which are downwardly defined by projecting portions 6 and upwardly defined by inwardly extending portions 7.
• an inwardly extending flange 12 which is adapted to be en ⁇ gaged by the edge of a standard growing pot.
• Such pots are made in only a few sizes, and the flange can be adapted so that the largest pots can be received inwardly thereof. If smaller pots are to be used, they can simply be provided with an adaptor having an outer diameter corresponding to that of the large pot.
• the embodiment in Figs 4 and 5 can be used either as a so-called half column with a rear portion 3 attached to the edge flanges 13, or as a full column comprising two interconnected semicircular portions.
• a partition 14 adapted to rest against a groove 15 formed in the panel 1, and the space above the partition 14 ac ⁇ commodates a water container 16.
• This is bag-shaped and made of a soft impermeable, strong material and is mounted in that its marginal portion is pulled over the edge of the panel 1 and the rear portion 3 and is fixed by means of a U-moulding.
• the water container can be provided with a dropping tube through which water successively drips into the interior of the plant column so as to be col ⁇ lected and distributed in the substrate.
• a wick means 17 is preferably used, i.e.
• wick watering system to the dripping system in which water is allowed to drip through a tube or the like is that the risk of spilling i significantly smaller in the first-mentioned system.
• par ⁇ tition 18 serving as a support for the substrate in the plant column, and this partition is adapted to let throug excessive water, if any, which can be collected in the container 19 and, when desired, be emptied by removal of the plug 20.
• a central watering means i.e. a central container with a water mains connection, from which so-called microtubes extend to each of the columns.
• the watering means should be provided with control means to facilitate drip watering and accurate control of the supplied amount of water.
• a mat of suitably dimen ⁇ sioned capillary material which functions as a wick, can extend from the bottom of the water container, over the edge thereof and be folded back on itself under the botto of the container and can then extend downwards along the rear wall in contact with the substrate, the lower end of the mat hanging down in the drainage container 19. This results in an appropriately slow and even supply of water and brings the further advantage that any water dripping down in the drainage container 19 will be sucked up again and distributed in the substrate.
• Such watering by means of a capillary mat is of great value since, at the same time as the necessary supply of water is ensured, it eliminates the risk that the sub ⁇ strate is soaked. Also in slow drip watering, a certain impoverishment of the substrate can occur in that nutri ⁇ tive substances and - especially at high temperatures - the vital nitrogen compounds are removed by soaking.
• the plant column shown in Figs 4 and 5 is suited for seed-growing as well as growing of pregrown plants with or without pot, and with the root-ball enclosed by cloth.
• seed-growing the seed is sown directly in the substrate which is then allowed to come up in the holes 5.
• pot- grown plants the substrate is hollowed out directly opposite each hole, such that the bottom portion of the pot is perfectly enclosed by the substrate. It is prior art to use elongate tubes or bags of plastic sheeting which are filled with substrate for pregrowing of plants.
• Such tubes and bags can of course be used together with the plant column according to the in ⁇ vention, and in a not shown embodiment especially intended therefor, the front and rear portion of the plant column are joined together by a hinge means such that they can be separated so as to allow insertion of a tube filled with substrate.
• a hinge means such that they can be separated so as to allow insertion of a tube filled with substrate.
• the plant column according to the invention can, when delivered, be pro ⁇ vided with the necessary substrate in the form of com- pressed peat mould in slices which suitably can be packed, enclosed in sheeting inside the plant column.
• the buyer only needs to add water to make the peat slices swell to the required volume filling the plant column.
• nutritive substances, fertilisers etc. can be enclosed.
• the inventive plant column facilitates handling in connection with growing of ornamental as well as uti ⁇ lity plants, minimises the need of space in the lateral direction, makes it possible to use both pregrown plants and seed growing and eliminates, through the design of plant pockets, any risks of so-called cultivation shocks.
• the design and the function make the plant column fit for professional use and for use in market gardens and the like.
• a number of so-called full col ⁇ umns can be hung up in stands in a greenhouse, whereby on the same floor surface space is provided for a many times greater number of plants as compared with conventional horizontal growing in cases, trays or the like.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
• Supports For Plants (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20374689

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (11)

Citations (3)

• 1989
  • 1989-01-09 SE SE8900044A patent/SE462734B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1990
  • 1990-01-03 AU AU48360/90A patent/AU4836090A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-01-03 WO PCT/SE1990/000005 patent/WO1990007266A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-01-03 EP EP90901701A patent/EP0452388A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (3)

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