Abstract: A plant holder includes at least one cell which defines a plant position and which is configured to receive plant material during use. A clamp includes a clamping position in which plant material is to be clamped in the cell and an open position in which plant material is to be arranged in and/or removed from the clamp. The clamp is provided with at least one actuator which is configured to be engaged externally in order to open the clamp. A system includes such a plant holder. A method of processing a plant holder including a clamp, includes the steps of: opening the clamp; arranging plant material in the clamp and/or removing it therefrom; and closing the clamp.

Abstract: A growth system includes growth trolleys each having at least one carrier configured to support products for growing, and a growth hub including equipment facilitating growth of products from a group comprising fluid supply, nutrient supply, and the like. At least one of the growth hub and the growth trolleys is displaceable relative to the other of the growth trolleys and the growth hub to furnish at least one growth facilitating function to products in at least one of the trolleys, when the at least one of the growth trolleys is adjacent to the growth hub.

Abstract: An outer pot configured to accommodate an inner plant pot. The outer pot includes a bottom and at least one side wall extending from the bottom to an opening configured to enable inserting the inner plant pot through the opening. The outer pot is configured for use in an ebb-and-flood grow system, in that: the bottom and the side wall define there between a fluid reservoir. A dome extending from the bottom and the side wall includes at least one through hole for fluid supply to or fluid discharge from the outer pot, where the through hole is arranged at a distance from the bottom to define a volume of the reservoir. Assemblies, ebb-and-flood based watering systems, methods of assembling and growing plants, associated with the outer pot.

Abstract: A container, such as a pot, strip or tray, comprising at least one accommodation for at least one specimen from a group, comprising: plants; seeds; seedlings; cuttings and the like, where the accommodation is configured to be filled with a substrate and the container exhibits at least a side wall, a bottom and a top surface to accommodate the substrate and the specimen in the substrate, of which at least a portion of the top surface is open to enable growth of the specimen there through in a longitudinal direction. The side wall includes a completely open passage which is dimensioned for inserting or extracting a block of substrate with essentially a full size of an interior of the accommodation into or from the interior through the passage in a sideways direction relative to the longitudinal direction, where at least the side wall includes a cutting edge alongside the passage.

Abstract: A system for handling eggs includes a pusher comprising an axis and an egg support at a free end of the axis. The system for handling eggs further includes a brake associated with the pusher, to selectively apply a brake force thereon.

Abstract: A wick inserting device for better automated handling, and an automated handling system, as well as an assembly of a pot and a wick inserting device and an assembly of a plurality of interconnected wick inserting devices. The wick inserting device includes an elongate body dimensioned to pass through a hole in a bottom or a sidewall of a plant pot, a wick clamp or jaw at one end of the elongate body configured to engage a length of a wick, and a stop head at an opposing end of the elongate body.

Abstract: A seeder for depositing seeds in trays or substrate in a pattern of seed positions. The seeder includes a seed supply; and a conveyor configured to transfer seeds from the seed supply to the trays or substrate and release extracted seeds in the pattern of seed positions into the trays or substrate. A detector includes a light source and a sensor configured to detect seeds at seed holding positions of the conveyor in transfer from the seed supply to the trays or substrate and generate a signal. The light source is obliquely oriented to generate grazing light on or over the conveyor, for seeds to cast detectable shadows on the surface of the conveyor, and the sensor is oriented to detect shadows on the conveyor, cast by seeds at seed holding positions. An associated method and a computer-readable storage medium to carry a program for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An outer pot configured to accommodate an inner plant pot. The outer pot includes a bottom and at least one side wall extending from the bottom to an opening configured to enable inserting the inner plant pot through the opening. The outer pot is configured for use in an ebb-and-flood grow system, in that: the bottom and the side wall define there between a fluid reservoir. A dome extending from the bottom and the side wall includes at least one through hole for fluid supply to or fluid discharge from the outer pot, where the through hole is arranged at a distance from the bottom to define a volume of the reservoir. Assemblies, ebb-and-flood based watering systems, methods of assembling and growing plants, associated with the outer pot.

Abstract: A graft system configured to graft plant material, including a first holder configured to engage a stem of a first plant below a cutline to hold a severed stem and connected roots of the first plant, and a second holder configured to engage a stem of a second plant above a cut line to hold a severed stem and connected leaves of the second plant. The second holder is stackable on the first holder to abut and align the severed stems. A strip embodying a graft system as well as an assembly of a strip or graft system with a tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for handling eggs. The system for handling eggs comprises a pusher comprising an axis and an egg support at a free end of the axis. The system for handling eggs further comprises a brake associated with the pusher, to selectively apply a brake force thereon.

Abstract: A plant growing, transportation, display, and maintenance system including a plant pot and corresponding container having a selectable valve that controls the flow of liquid into and out of the container.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to the cultivation-, packaging-, and shipping of plugs, containing a seed or seedling and a substrate. In particular, a holder (10) is contrived having one or multiple cavities (11) in which a plug can be placed, together with one or multiple removal slits (12). Furthermore, a packaging tray (30) is contrived, having engaging means (32) and a perforated foil, to be used in unison with a particular holder for shipping that particular holder to a retailer or a customer. The holder could be placeable in both a cultivation tray (80) and a packaging tray (30).

Abstract: A container, such as a pot, strip or tray, comprising at least one accommodation for at least one specimen from a group, comprising: plants; seeds; seedlings; cuttings and the like, where the accommodation is configured to be filled with a substrate and the container exhibits at least a side wall, a bottom and a top surface to accommodate the substrate and the specimen in the substrate, of which at least a portion of the top surface is open to enable growth of the specimen there through in a longitudinal direction. The side wall includes a completely open passage which is dimensioned for inserting or extracting a block of substrate with essentially a full size of an interior of the accommodation into or from the interior through the passage in a sideways direction relative to the longitudinal direction, where at least the side wall includes a cutting edge alongside the passage.

Abstract: A device and method for inserting a wick in a plant pot and retaining the wick in a desired position. A wick retainer is provided. This device very generally resembles a large nail, having a head at its first end and an elongated column extending therefrom. The far end of the column opens into a retention notch configured to secure a wick at any point along its length. A unidirectional latch is located proximate the head. The head also contains one or more receivers configured to retain the free ends of the wick.

Abstract: A carrier for growing crops, such as lettuce, is disclosed. The carrier floats on water in a pond, and includes at least one floating beam and a carrier connectable to the floating beam, and a number of growth locations for the crops where holders for the crops or roots of the crops extend into the water.

Abstract: A plant holder includes at least one cell which defines a plant position and which is configured to receive plant material during use. A clamp includes a clamping position in which plant material is to be clamped in the cell and an open position in which plant material is to be arranged in and/or removed from the clamp. The clamp is provided with at least one actuator which is configured to be engaged externally in order to open the clamp. A system includes such a plant holder. A method of processing a plant holder including a clamp, includes the steps of: opening the clamp; arranging plant material in the clamp and/or removing it therefrom; and closing the clamp.

Abstract: A device to insert a wick into a plant pot, an assembly of the device and the wick, as well as a method of making the device. The device is configured to insert a wick in substrate contained in a plant pot, and comprises an elongate body, and at least one wick clamp configured to engage a wick at at least one longitudinal end of the elongate body. The clamp extends over a considerable portion of the length and optionally over essentially the whole length of the elongate body. Wicks may be assembled with the device automatically or manually.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly, comprising a plant pot (258) having a bottom (260) and at least one side wall (264), extending from the bottom up to a top rim and at least one hole (268) which is arranged in or at least near the bottom, at least one wick (30) extending from below the bottom and through the hole and a container (256), dimensioned to accommodate at least a bottom portion of the plant pot comprising the hole through which the wick extends out of the plant pot. The container and the plant pot in an assembled state define a reservoir to accommodate fluid, such as water, for the plant to be drawn up through the wick during at least one of growing, transporting and display for sale of a plant in the plant pot, which is accommodated in the container. An overflow (284) with a controllable valve (288) may function to distinguish between a stationary state of the assembly and transport thereof.

Abstract: A carrier for growing crops, such as lettuce, is disclosed. The carrier floats on water in a pond, and includes at least one floating beam and a carrier connectable to the floating beam, and a number of growth locations for the crops where holders for the crops or roots of the crops extend into the water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a floating carrier and a cultivation system for crops such as lettuce in floating carriers on water. The cultivation system comprises a basin comprising at least one elongate production pond with an infeed end on a short side and an opposite outfeed end and with water therein, a number of elongate floating carriers, the length of which corresponds to the width of the elongate production pond and which move in an orientation transversely of a longitudinal direction of the elongate production pond through the production pond from the infeed end to the outfeed end at a rate corresponding to bringing the crops to full growth, which floating carriers each comprise a number of growth locations for the crops where holders for the crops or roots of the crops extend into the water, and a transport system comprising a lifting mechanism and conveyors.