Abstract: A mobile, enclosed plant growing apparatus including a plumbing/irrigation system and a method for using such. The plumbing/irrigation system includes a modularized reservoir system, light tight piping, growing buckets, risers and sprinklers. A liquid nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir system, through the piping, into the buckets through the risers, exiting from the sprinklers. The plant growing apparatus is substantially environmentally isolated. The plant growing apparatus may include a light tight enclosure made of a tent-like material. Also, certain growth parameters may be electronically controlled so as to maximize the growth profiles of the plants. The parameters include levels of light, liquid solution, temperature, humidity and pH.

Abstract: A turf product having a base (11), a root zone material and a reinforcement material (15) located thereon and turf growing in the root zone material (13), the base preferably being the upper surface of a pallet (10). The invention also includes a method and means whereby the turf can be located temporarily in position whilst on pallets and one in which the turf can be placed on the ground surface by locating the turf on a pallet in the required position and then removing the pallet from thereunder.

Abstract: A self-watering tray for supporting and displaying a plurality of potted plants which can be watered from a water reservoir in the bottom of the tray, the tray comprising a plurality of wall sections which define spaced openings in the tray, each wall section being provided with a support located above the reservoir for supporting the potted plant at or above the water, and being laterally open to the adjacent wall sections below the supports to provide a continuous reservoir channel below the supports and pots, through which water can circulate for watering plants by capillary action.

Abstract: A liquid level control device adapted to be located in a vessel comprising a first flow controller (21) having a float (39) located in a chamber (53) which controls a valve (33), the chamber being open at the bottom to allow water ingress and egress and having an air vent (32) and a breather (52), and a second flow controller (22) having a float (69) which controls a valve (63) which is connected to the air vent (32). The first flow controller (21) controls water ingress to the vessel and the second flow controller (22) controls flow of air to the first chamber (53). Both flow controllers (21, 22) work together to maintain a constant level of liquid in the vessel. This liquid level control device is used for automatic watering of plants.

Abstract: A system for drying grapes from a vineyard using vertical supports extending above the rows of grapevines and porous horizontal trays extending above the grapevines along each row supported by the vertical supports. A black plastic porous tray material defines the trays which stretch between parallel wires supported by a periodic structure for spreading the wires. The tray material may be wrapped about the wires at its outer edges and held by synthetic materials which adhere when pressed together.

Abstract: A plant growing tray comprises a plurality of strips of tray compartments and a foldable portion or pleat connecting two adjacent strips of the tray compartments. The foldable connecting portion is generally a V-groove having a folding line along the bottom of the groove. Two end members are provided optionally at both ends of the foldable V-groove portion. Each tray compartment has an opening on its bottom.

Abstract: An artistic flower planting case hangable on a building terrace having a flower planting case and a hanging plate. The hanging plate is channel shaped and placed on an upper surface of a terrace wall of a building. The flower planting case is an elongated case with an upper open side, forming an interior for soil and flowers. The case is assembled with the hanging plate by bolts screwing into a plurality of threaded holes in a rear side of the flower planting case and a front side of the hanging plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved tree guard for protecting the bark of young trees and shrubs from mechanical damage caused by landscaping and lawn maintenance equipment. The tree guard includes at least one generally rectangular, flexible sheet which may be temporarily or permanently bent into a cylindrical shape sufficiently large to encircle a tree at ground level. Longitudinal releasable locking strips are provided to attach the ends of the sheet together to hold the sheet in the desired shape. The locking strips incorporate a tab and groove attachment system with each tab and groove having retaining beads running therealong to hold each tab within a cooperating groove. Preferably, the tab and groove of each locking strip are oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet at the point of attachment of the strip to the sheet. The cooperating strips may be identical in shape so that the tab of one fits into the groove of another and vice versa.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stemming a flower in which the flower stem is cut substantially simultaneously with attaching a flower pick to the flower stem, thereby eliminating the separate steps of cutting the flower stem and subsequently attaching a stem pick by combining these two operations. In another aspect of the invention, the flower stem is cut in an environment which displaces air from the region of the severed plant stem by submerging the portion of the plant stem in the region of severance under water or by subjecting it to a flow of water or a spray of water or other material which would prevent formation of an air gap in the vascular tissue of the plant and/or skinning over of the tubules. The flower stem may be cut under water and a pick applied under water or cut of the water or out of the water.

Abstract: Thorns from plant stems are stripped off by feeding the plant stem between splines. The splines project radially from respective rotary components arranged side by side. The rotary components rotate towards each other as viewed from the opening in the topside of the housing and away from each other as viewed from the opening in the bottomside of the housing. The plant stem having thorns is fed through the topside opening in the housing in a direction toward the bottomside opening to reach a location between said rotary components so that said brush splines swipe against said thorns thereby removing the same from the stem.

Abstract: A systematic device for germinating plant seeds under controlled conditions is disclosed, consisting in its illustrated embodiment of a water-bearing container (1), biodegradable pods (2), clear cover (6) with an air hole (8), pod alignment plate (3), moisture indicator (9), germination mix (4), seed (5), fertilizer amendment (11), carrying handle (10) and watering tube (7). A new use of a paper coin envelope is disclosed as a method for germinating seeds and growing seedlings for direct introduction into an alternative growing medium without the necessity for transplantation.

Abstract: An assembly of a pot for plants and an associated support wherein the pot defines a bottom wall and a surrounding side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The support defines a horizontal surface upon which the bottom wall of the pot is positioned. Pin means extend upwardly from this horizontal surface, and at least one opening is defined by the bottom wall of the pot for receiving the pin means. This arrangement secures the pot on the support surface against the influence of wind, jostling, or other dislodging forces.

Abstract: There is provided a crop cultivation apparatus which comprises a cultivation bed having a ditch formed on the bottom thereof for receiving and supplying a culture liquid, a liquid level adjusting tank provided adjacent to and communicated with the cultivation bed, a culture liquid tank provided at a higher position than the cultivation bed for supplying the culture liquid to the liquid level adjusting tank, a liquid absorbent sheet for upwardly absorbing the culture liquid from the ditch formed on the bottom of the cultivation bed, and a mass of culture medium provided upwardly of the liquid absorbent sheet for cultivating a crop.

Abstract: A flat trapezoidal container provides a generally frustoconical single cavity for snugly sheathing a flower pot. The container is specifically dimensioned sheath a flower pot so as either (a) to leave therebeneath, a surplus of film in an transition zone which is concealable under the flower pot, or (b) form a hexagonal gusset in the bottom. The container is made from two flat panels of heat-sealable film, each shaped in the general form of a trapezium; or from a single web folded double. The lower portion of the container is ornamentally imprinted along a border extending beneath a generally lateral line above the longitudinal axis of the web; and, with a marker in the upper portion, identifies the contents, or provides instructions for their use or care. When the cavity is distended by being partially filled, the entire container, except for a transition zone, presents a smoothly arcuate surface of the frustum of a cone.

Abstract: A trellis and trellise kit are provided with poles and lattice netting in which the lattice netting can be rolled up on the poles to which they are attached. Two crossbars are provided. They can be easily slipped on and off the poles to detach them from the netting, and the trellis can be formed into a compact package for shipping, warehousing, or storage by the user in a protected location. The poles preferably have square cross-sections. A pair of crossbars is provided with square holes slightly larger than the poles, so that the crossbars fit slidably onto the poles. The crossbars have very simple hook structures which engage the upper and lower edges of the netting to stretch it tight. Advantageously, the netting is made to bend across at least one edge of the crossbars, and at least one edge of each of the poles, so as to relieve strain on the fastening structures.

Abstract: A water-keeping assembly (109) for a plant container (110), which assembly (9) comprises a perforated partition (111) arranged to extend across the bottom of a said container (110) for dividing the interior of the container (110) into an upper compartment for holding therein soil and a lower compartment for collecting therein any water drained down from the soil through the partition (111). The assembly (109) includes ventilation tubes (112) arranged to extend upwards from the partition (111) so that air can reach from above into the lower compartment. The assembly (109) further includes water absorbent bars (113) arranged to pass from the lower compartment through the partition (111) into the upper half of the upper compartment for bringing water collected below the partition (111) upwards into the soil above the partition (111) through capillary action.

Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having detaching elements at preselected areas, the sleeve further comprising a bonding material which connects the sleeve to the pot when the pot is positioned within the sleeve, the sleeve being positioned about the pot and a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounding and encompassing the pot, an upper portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping contained within the pot, at least a portion of the sleeve being removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which is a decorative plant cover.

Abstract: A support assembly for growing tomato plants allows ready access to the plant during the various stages of growth by utilizing interchangeable parts including post sections having a tapered member (A) on a bottom end and a tapered socket (B) on the other end for joining the sections to form continuous posts having vertically spaced seating locations (C), and horizontal supports (D) having sockets (E) which fit securely onto post sections and spaced vertically to form modules that may be stacked in vertical relation and thereby added progressively to meet the needs engendered by growth of the plant and to permit ready access to the plant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering cottonseed from the lint in batch quantities for planting purposes. The system utilizes a dilute acid approach and provides for gradual mixing of the fuzzy seed and a dilute acid solution followed by batch drying and hydrolysis in a rotating drum reaction chamber in which heated air at a controlled temperature is circulated. The process conditions and the flight pattern of the fuzzy seed within the rotating drum are controlled to avoid trauma to the seed and thereby assure suitability of the recovered seed for planting purposes.

Abstract: A method of plant culture including the steps of growing plants, which produce elongated flexible portions, in supported relation on a structure; permitting the flexible portions to grow; and moving the flexible portions substantially into separate predetermined positions relative to the plants, based upon predetermined distinguishing characteristics of said flexible portions, for subsequent plant cultural practices. An apparatus for plant culture wherein the plants grow elongated flexible portions each growing season, the apparatus having a frame adapted to be disposed adjacent to at least one of the plants and having a laterally projecting first support portion and an upwardly projecting second support portion; and a support system for moving the flexible portions of the plant discriminately to the first or second portions based upon predetermined distinguishing characteristics.