Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02235777 1998-04-24
File No.: 2322-1-001
GROWING APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for commercial
production and growing of plants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the commercial production of plants, such as strawberry plants, it is
desirable to maximize the yield of individual plants for sale by
harvesting offshoots or "daughter" plants from a mature strawberry
plant or ~'mother" plant. For the purposes of illustration only,
strawberries will be discussed. Other plants such as tomatoes, onions,
herbs, lettuce, beans and cumbers can also be grown in the apparatus.
One traditional way of producing daughter plants is to allow the
mother plant to grow multiple daughter plants over the course of the
growing season in a plastic mulch bed and then to have the daughter
plants harvested by hand. In order to harvest the daughter plants,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
laborers typically walk by each plant and bend over to remove the
daughter plants. After the daughter plants are harvested, they are
graded and sorted by size.
Large scale attempts at daughter plant production have primarily
focused on using raised beds in outdoor fields. Some small scale
attempts at strawberry plant and fruit production have focused on
multi-tiered structures. The structures are designed for supporting
strawberry plants vertically with individual plants positioned above
other plants to increase the number of plants that can be grown in a
given area. One such system is the Gro-Max system, available from
Verti-Gro in Kissimmee, Florida, which involves suspending stacks of
Styrofoam pots around a central support pole. The individual pots
hold up to four plants and are stacked one above the other in the
vertical direction. Water and nutrients are injected at the top of the
stack of pots and flow down through holes in the bottom of each pot
to the next lower pot under the force of gravity. The Gro-Max system
is used primarily for strawberry fruit production and is not completely
satisfactory for daughter plant production, because the stacking of the
plants around a vertical pole results in plants on one side of the pole
receiving less light than plants on the other side. Also, the
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
arrangement of the pots vertically around the circumference of the
vertical pole makes tending to the plants and harvesting the plants
difficult. Because of its design the Grow Max system requires the
laborer to work around in a circle which can lead to confusion and
S even disorientation that can result in neglect of some of the plants
during the execution of work tasks.
The pots on the Gro-Max system are permanently attached to the
apparatus and therefore, planting and removal of the individual
strawberry plants is required to introduce the plants to the system and
to remove the plants. Another drawback to the Gro-Max system is that
the harvesting of daughter plants in the system is difficult because of
the tendency of the daughter plants to hang down into and become
intertwined with the plants positioned below. With the daughter plants
tangled with other plants, it is difficult to remove the daughter plants
without missing or damaging them.
Another growing apparatus that has been used for strawberry plants is
a hanging bag system. The bags have slots for insertion of individual
strawberry plants. The bags are supported next to each other in rows
from a horizontal pole. In this manner multiple rows of the bags can
be stacked above one another by hanging them from higher poles.
. , ~ . " ~ , . _ . _ .. " ~ , . .. . . .
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
Each side of the bag has openings for ten plants. The bags suffer from
some of the drawbacks of the Gro-Max system including the fact that
light is blocked by the bag and one side of the bag receives more light
than the other side. Also, the bag blocks the growth of the daughter
plants and causes them to grow into the plants positioned below them
making them more difficult to h~rvest.
Multi-tiered growing apparatus have also been used in the area of
hydroponics. In hydroponics, the plants are placed in sterile media and
the roots are fed by a nutrient rich liquid. Without receiving nutrients
from a growing media, the hydroponic systems rely exclusively on the
liquid nutrients. It is customary in these systems for the liquids to be
delivered to the roots of the plants through ducts.
One such hydroponic system is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,255,896
issued to Carl. The system provides a set of ducts for piping nutrients
to the roots of the plants. Each duct has several openings for
placement of Styrofoam cups. The cups hold a sterile media along
with the individual plants. Openings in the bottom of the cups allow
the roots to extend into the nutrient filled liquid. The system is not
particularly well suited for the commercial production of strawberry
plug plants for several reasons. First, with a sterile media in the cups,
, .. , .. . , . _ ,
.,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
it is critical that the roots of the plants extend far enough toward the
bottom of the cup and into the ductwork to receive the nutrients or the
plant will die. In the case of cuttings or seedlings, they have to be
grown somewhere else until they are of a sufficient size to survive in
s the sterile media in the system. Accordingly, the system does not
readily accommodate immature plants. Also, the plants may need to
be repotted yet another time in order to prepare them for sale because
they are not in condition to be transported as their roots are massed
and there is no soil to provide nutrients to the plants during shipping.
~lso, in the hydroponic system the liquid that contains the nutrients
flows through the entire system and passes through the roots of
several plants. With the same liquids encountering all of the plants
diseases can easily be spread across the crop.
The hydroponic system requires that a relatively large volume of
liquids pass through the ducts because the plants do not receive any
nutrients from the media in the containers. The amount of liquid to be
supported and the number of vertical tiers affects the stability of the
apparatus which may become top heavy. Also, the hydroponic system
requires a certain level of liquid within the ducts so that the roots are
exposed to enough liquid. In order to maintain this level of fluid, the
:.., ; :
: -
., . - !
.' . ,
CA 0223=,777 1998-04-24
ducts must be approximately level so that each plant is exposed to the
same amount of liquid for uniform growth in the system. This
requirement can lead to installation problems especially in outdoor
environments where the terrain is uneven. Another drawback to the
system is that the liquids are usually pumped through a closed loop
with the liquid entering the system at the top and flowing down
through the system with the aid of gravity. In this manner, the plants
at the bottom of the system may receive a lower concentration of
nutrients than the plants at the top of the system because of nutrient
absorption by the top level plants causing poorer growth of plants
further away from the source of the fluids.
What is needed is a vertically supported, multi-tiered growing
apparatus that accommodates all plants in separate containers, that
maximizes the light and air flow around the individual plants, that
increases the yield of strawberry daughter plants while making them
easier to harvest, and that eliminates the drawbacks to the hydroponic
systems. Such a system would provide a generally equal level of
nutrients to all plants growing in the system, regardless of location.
.
-:
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above described problems by
providing an apparatus having a plurality of horizontally disposed
ducts capable of holding individual containers for plants. The ducts
are capable of being supported vertically in a multi-tiered
configuration.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a plurality
of ducts having openings that are spaced apart along the length of
each duct. The openings are sized to be capable of receiving standard
planting pots of the variety that are typically sold at nurseries. The
ducts are supported horizontally and arranged in a parallel multi-tiered
vertical configuration by support brackets. The support brackets are J-
shaped and attached to a set of support poles that provide support for
the brackets. The brackets support the ducts at predetermined
positions along the span of the ducts. The support brackets are
positioned on each side of the poles and at differing heights along
each pole. In this manner, the ducts can be supported in pairs back to
back and above and below other pairs of ducts. Alternatively, the
ducts can be staggered or spaced in different configurations depending
~'!' ,,
. . ' .
., , ' , :
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
on the system design by mounting the brackets to the support poles
according to the desired spacing design.
The individual pots can hold a growing media and a plant and
typically have at least one drainage hole at tlle bottom to allow excess,
unabsorbed liquids to escape. The pots are sized to fit partially inside
the ducts by being inserted into the duct openings.
The ducts are installed at a slope from the horizontal along their
longitudinal axis in order to provide for flow of unabsorbed liquids
inside the ducts from one end of the duct to the other end of the duct
for disposal or recycling.
The system also includes a drip tape for delivering liquid and nutrients
into the individual pots from a central fluid reservoir or source. The
liquid and nutrients are conveyed to the drip tape by a pump. The
pump can convey liquid to all of the tiers of the apparatus
simultaneously during interrnittent periods or the pump can be made
to cycle between the individual tiers of the system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
multi-tiered horizontal growing system to achieve an efficient plant
production per unit area.
. .; ; . - .. ,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a growing
apparatus that provides even exposure to light and air flow for proper
growth of daughter plants.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-tiered
growing apparatus that accepts standard plastic pots of the type
commonly used for retail sale of individual plants.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a systern
that irrigates each plant individually in the most efficient manner
possible so as to conserve water and nutrients and prevent the spread
of disease.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-
tiered growing system that provides easy access for harvesting and
tending to strawberry daughter plants.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an irrigation
system for applying water and nutrients approximately equally to
individual potted plants in a plurality of horizontally disposed
elongate ducts arranged in a multi-tiered vertical system.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of
~ .. ~ . . .. ....... . .. .. .. .
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference
characters designate the same or similar parts throug11out the figures
of which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the present invention showing a
partial view of the individual plants and the drip emitting tape;
Fig. 2 is a first side elevation view of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a second side elevation view of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a detailed side view of one of the growing positions on the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention; and,
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the present invention.
. , . . .. . . _ . .
i. .
. .
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is discussed with regard to strawberry plants,
but can be readily adapted to be used for growing tomatoes, onions,
herbs, lettuce, beans, cucumbers and the like. Referring to Figs. 1 and
2, a growing apparatus 11 comprises a plurality of ducts 14 having a
set of openings 17 that are spaced longitudinally along each duct 14.
The ducts 14 may be constructed of any material suitable for
conveying irrigation liquids, such as, but not limited to clay, g!ass,
plastic, wood, metal, bamboo or other naturally occurring hollow
tube-like structure, and the like. The preferred material for growing
strawberry plug plants is commercially available 4 inch diameter PVC
tubing, which is lightweight, durable and easier to cut than metal
tubing. The ducts 14 are suspended from support poles 20 which are
preferably constmcted of a mild steel tubing such as that typically
used for metal fences. The support poles 20 are preferably fixedly
mounted in the ground at a predetermined distance from the surface
with concrete footings (not shown). Alternatively, the support poles
could be freestanding and portable should the user ever need to move
the apparatus. The support pole 20 is preferably configured to support
"''~ ' ' '
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
pairs of elongate ducts 14 in back-to-back fashion. Each pair of ducts
14 is disposed in a vertically spaced apart relation with respect to the
other pairs of ducts 14. The support poles 20 are connected to each
other by a cross member 23 that attaches at the top of each pole 20
s through a support loop 26. The cross member 23 is also constructed of
mild steel tubing and provides stability to the system. For even greater
stability, adjacent rows of the growing apparatus 11 can also be tied
together by extra support members (not shown). However, the system
does not require a great deal of extra support because the ducts 14 are
made of lightweight material, do not carry a significant volume of
fluids, and are positioned to counterbalance each other. In outdoor
installations, extra support may be desirable when wind conditions are
introduced.
The ducts 14 are supported from the support poles 20 by a set of
lS brackets 29. The brackets 29 attach to the support poles 20 by
mechanical fasteners 30 and are J-shaped in order to forrn a cradle to
hold the duct 14. The duct 14 rests in the curved portion 31 of the
bracket 29 (best shown in Fig. 4). In order to stabilize the ducts 14,
which tend to rotate in the curved brackets 29 when the weight of the
plant creates torque, a set of fasteners 32 are positioned on alternating
. .. ,. _. ....~
. . :- .
.
. ,, ,, . ~ . , ,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
brackets 29. The fasteners 32 are preferably of the self-tapping screw
type that pass through the bracket 29 and into the duct 14 to hold the
duct in place. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that
other means for attaching the ducts 14 to the brackets 29 would work
S equally as well. The ducts 14 are preferably sloped along their
longitudinal axis in order to provide for fluid flow inside the ducts 14
from one end 33 to the other end 34 of the duct 14.
A set of containers 35 are sized to fit into the openings 17 in the ducts
14 and to hold a plant 38 and a growing media 41. The container 35
holding the plant 38 and the growing media 41 extends into the duct
14 through the opening 17. ~ecause the plant 38 is fed water and
nutrients from above the plant surface into the growing media 41, the
distance that the container 35 extends into the duct 14 is not critical.
The containers 35 are preferably standard four inch plastic pots
similar to pots that are used for the retail sale of small plants. It is to
be understood that four inch pots are preferred for strawberries and
that other pot sizes and shapes can be substituted for smaller or larger
systems to accommodate other plants.
The plants 38 are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the ducts 14
according to the spacing of the openings 17. Each pair of rows of
.
..... ....
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
ducts 14 is also spaced apart from the ducts 14 positioned above and
below it. For strawberry plants the appropriate vertical spacing
between rows of ducts 14 is approximately eighteen inches, but for
crops consisting of larger plants the spacing would be increased. In
this manner, the entire plant 38 can receive light without any major
obstructions.
The plants 38 require that their growing media 41 be irrigated and
drained for proper growth. In order to deliver liquid and nutrients to
the growing media 41 in each container 35, the growing apparatus 11
preferably includes a drip tape emitter 44. The emitter 44 is a pressure
compensating low rate drip tape that is widely available and well
lcnown to those skilled in irrigation. The drip tape of the present
invention is preferably T-Tape brand which is widely available from
irrigation supply companies. The drip emitter 44 is designed for low
rate emission of fluids. The emitter 44 delivers liquid to each
container 35 individually in low rate, precisely delivered quantities.
-
The end of the drip tape emitter 44 is fixedly attached to the end of the
duct 14 to hold the emitter 44 in position. The attachrrlent is
preferably made by threading the drip tape 44 through an eye hook 49
that is attached to the end of the duct 14, as shown in Fig. 4. After the
14 ,,
.. ., .~,, ~ . . .
~. . . 1
: '. ': , .
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
emitter is threaded through the hook 49, the end is tiecl off on the eye
hook 49. As an alternative, irrigation of the plant 38 could be
accomplished by other means known to those skilled in the art such as
by dripper heads or other emitters capable of delivering fluids to the
S individual containers 35. A much less preferred alternative would be
spr~y heads.
The fluids that are delivered to the apparatus 11 by the drip tape
emitter 44 and that pass through the growing media 41 into the duct
14 can be recovered from the lower end 33 of the duct 14 by a cover
50 having a tube stub 51 attached thereto (best shown in Fig. 4). The
tube stub 51 connects to a hose 53 at the end of each of the ducts 14.
The unabsorbed fluids from the ducts 14 can be removed through hose
53 and discarded or recycled. It is preferable to discard the
unabsorbed liquids in order to eliminate the possibility of cross
lS contamination and the spread of diseases from recycled liquids.
However, if recycling is required, there are systems available for
treating (e.g., ultraviolet radiation, filtration with activated charcoal,
and/or HEPA filters) the liquids before reusing them.
The drip tape emitters 44 for each duct 14 are fed by a pump 56 for
conveying liquids. The pump 56 conveys the liquids to the drip tapes
.... ..
~,.. ,,. , ~ - ~
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
44 through a set of tubing 59, a pressure regulator 60, and a manifold
62. The pressure regulator of the present invention is available from
Nelson irrigation in Walla Walla, Washington. The tubing 59
connects to the pressure regulator 60 which reduces the pressure from
approximately 50-60 p.s.i. to 10 p.s.i. Fluid pressure in the drip tape
emitters 44 is built up from the bottom of the manifold 62 to the top of
the manifold G2. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that
through different duct layouts and control methods (e.g., timers, logic
circuits and sensors), the delivery of the liquid to the drip tape
emitters 44 can be altered. For example, the system can be designed to
deliver fluid to different banks of ducts 14 through different
manifolds. Also, the fluids can be delivered to individual ducts 14 at
different times or to deliver fluids to all of the ducts 14 at the same
time depending on the size of the pump 59 and the design of the
control system. As an alternative, the system could be designed to
deliver fluids in response to humidity,- water level, pH or nutrient
composition sensing means. Thus, as is known to those skilled in the
art, the delivery of the fluid to the individual containers can be
accomplished in numerous ways depending on the design of the
manifolds and the size and controls associated with the pump 56.
16
: , ,
. "~
,. ~
.
CA 02235777 1998-04-24
The growing apparatus 11 is preferably equipped with a tube 63
extending the length of the duct 14 and resting on the bottom of the
interior for circulating a heated liquid through the ducts 14 in order to
provide heat to the root system.
S In operation, the plants 38 are planted into the containers 35 and the
containers 35 are placed into the openings 17 in the ducts 14. It is
intended that the plants 38 that are introduced into the growing
apparatus 11 be rooted only once during the entire growing process.
By using standard planting pots, the plants 38 may be initially grown
outside of the growing apparatus 11 in the same containers 35 that
will eventually be placed into the growing apparatus 11. After the
plants 38 have grown sufficiently outside of the system, such as in the
case of seedlings or cuttings, the containers 35 can be placed into the
growing apparatus 11 without the need for any transplant.
lS Once the plants 38 are positioned in the apparatus 11, the pump 56
conveys water and nutrients individually to the containers 35 in each
duct 14. The water and nutrients are delivered into the top of each
container 35 by the drip emitters 44. In this manner each container 35
is delivered approximately the same amount of water and nutrients
and there is no cross contamination of the fluids between the
17
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
individual containers 35. Depending on the configuration of the pump
56 and controls, the water and nutrients can be delivered to the ducts
14 simultaneously or in alternating fashion at predetermined intervals.
Water and nutrients that are not absorbed by the growing media 41 in
s the container 35 will pass through the openings 47 at the bottom of the
container 35 into the duct 14. Due to the slope of the ducts 14 along
the longitudinal axis, the unabsorbed liquids will flow from one end
34 of the duct 14 to the other end 33 where they are collected for
disposal or recycling.
lo After the plant 38 has been in the apparatus 11 long enough for it to
be ready to be sold, the entire container 35 can be removed from the
growing apparatus l l. In this manner the plant 38 can be sold without
ever having to remove it from the container 35. Not having to uproot
the plant 38 saves time and eliminates the possibility of darnage to the
lS plant 38 during uprooting. Also, the ability to have the plant 38
packaged in this manner gives the plant producer flexibility as the
plant 38 is always in condition for immediate individual sale.
The apparatus 11 of the present invention provides several advantages
over what has been previously known in the art. The apparatus 11
provides excellent growing conditions for a large number of plants per
18
.~ ,., ,. .;,. .
~ - t - ; !; ,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
unit of growing space. The system was designed for the production of
strawberry plug plants but also may be used for growing a variety of
other small crops. The fact that each plant 38 receives its own
nutrients and water from a drip emitter 44 ensures that each plant 38
S receives only the water and nutrients that it needs and that diseases are
not spread through contact of the same water and nutrients by several
plants 38.
Also, by drip emitting the liquids into each container 35 individually,
at the same time and in the same concentration, the amount of water
and nutrients needed by each plant 38 can be delivered without losses
due to overspray, runoff, and nutrient absorption by plants up-stream.
In this manner, the liquids are conserved. Drip emission of the fluids
is preferred over spraying because spraying liquids moistens the
foliage which is not as important as delivering liquids to the growing
lS media 41 and which can result in foliar diseases. Also, sprayed liquids
tend to splash from plant to plant which can transfer spores or mold
from one plant to another.
Further, by drip emitting fluid containing w~ter and nutrients into the
individual containers 35, the spread of disease can be curtailed very
quickly by simply removing the container 35 with the diseased plant
19
... ,,, . , . . . _ , . . . . .
, . .
.,, - . .
~, , ' 1 J
,.. . ... . .. . . . .
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
38 from the opening 17 in the growing apparatus 11. In a typical field
or spray irrigation setting, the fluids splash from plant to plant and
disease can be spread. In the hydroponic system, the same fluids are
cycled through the entire duct system and come in contact with all of
S the plants which can spread disease.
The positioning of the plants 38 in the apparatus 11 improves the
production of "daughter" plants. Daughter plants are shoots th~t
extend from a "mother" plant that can be cut and rooted. In the
production of strawberry plug plants, daughter plant production is
very important as the yield of daughter plants is key to maximizing
the yield from a given crop. By spacing the rows of ducts 14
vertically, the daughter plants have space to grow out of the mother
plant and to hang to the side and below the mother plant. With the
daughter plants hanging to the side and below the mother plant, they
can be easily recognized and harvested by the person tending the crop.
In fact, the linear design and the spacing of the plants 38 in the
growing apparatus 11 make all of the tasks required for the
maintenance of the crop easier. For instance, the layout of the growing
apparatus l l reduces the amount of bending over required for tending
to the crop, and the linear orientation of the apparatus 11 makes it
,
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
easier to keep track of the plants 38 that have already received
whatever care is being administered. Also, the positioning of the
containers 35 in the ducts 14 provides support in a manner that
minimizes obstruction of sunlight from the plants 38.
The system can deliver water and nutrients to all of the ducts 14 at
once or can sequence from one duct 14 to another in alternating
fashion, which might be useful if different plants are being grown in
different rows, or if different age plants are being grown in different
rows, requiring different nutrient compositions.
lo The present invention is also economical as it uses standardized
growing containers 35 as elements of the invention and therefore, the
system can easily accommodate existing containers and can accept
plants in these containers without requiring a transplant. At the end of
the growing process, the plants 38 can be removed from the system
quiclcly and easily for individual retail sale or for disposal.
The invention provides advantages for growing seedlings or cuttings
because these immature plants can be rooted in the soil in standard
containers 35 and then placed into the system without any
transplanting required.
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
The present invention provides a structure that is cost effective and
easy to build and that does not require heavy duty supports or bracing.
The ducts are made of lightweight material that counterbalance each
other and that do not carry large volumes of liquid. The only bracing
suggested for indoor installations is a single cross member that ties all
of the support poles together through a loop at the top. For outdoor
installations where wind forces may be greater, additional support
may be preferable but is not required.
The addition of a tube for circulating heating liquids inside the ducts
14 improves the heating efficiency of the apparatus 11. During the
winter and at other times of the year in certain geographical locations,
nighttime temperatures get lower and supplemental heating of the
greenhouse is required. It is well known that soil temperatures below
60~-65~ F retard plant growth. It is also well known that for most
commercial crops maintaining the air temperature around the foliage
is much less important than maintaining the soil temperature. By
conveying a heated liquid, such as water or oil, through the tube 63,
the tube 63 warms and radiant heat is supplied to the roots of the
plants in an efficient manner. In particular, it is more cost efficient to
raise the temperatures inside the ducts 14 than to raise the temperature
22
: ., .~ ' : ,"
.
-:''~, ;; ,
, , " ': .: ',.': . . ';
CA 0223~777 1998-04-24
of an entire greenhouse. The tube 63 can be supplied with a heated
liquid from a heat/pump apparatus 66 (not shown) that would heat the
liquid and then pump the liquid through a closed loop circulating
system as is commercially available and well known to those skilled
in the art.
Referring to Fig. 6, as an alternative embodiment for outdoor
situations where space is not at a premium, the apparatus 11 could be
built for ground support of all of the ducts 14 in substantially parallel
spaced apart rows. In this alternative embodiment of the invention the
support poles 20 are eliminated. Rather, the ducts 14 lie on the ground
in rows. Otherwise, all of the elements of the system are substantially
the same as described previously. This alternative embodiment might
be more practical and economical in some outdoor installations.
While the invention has been described in connection with certain
preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is
intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as
may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
~ ~ ~ i t; ~
