Abstract: The spot planter includes a frame movable forwardly over the ground behind a towing vehicle. A reciprocating dibble is pivotally mounted on the frame and reciprocates toward and away from the ground to cut a series of planting pockets in the ground, and a seedling ejector reciprocates with the dibble and ejects seedlings into the planting pockets. A packing wheel is also mounted on the frame and is positioned behind and to the side of the dibble and also moves toward and away from the ground to engage the ground adjacent the planting pockets and to close the planting pockets about the seedlings. A passenger compartment is mounted on the frame on the other side of the dibble from the packing wheel and a workman repeatedly places a seedling in the seedling ejector and actuates the planting cycle of the machine.

Abstract: This invention provides a planting apparatus which includes a mobile frame mounted on wheels or the like and adapted to be towed over the ground. An arm is swingably mounted to the frame and extends rearwardly from the mounting location. The arm carries a dibble on its moveable end, which is adapted to cut into the ground during forward travel of the mobile frame. A planter is carried by the arm rearwardly of the dibble and is adapted to support a seedling for planting in the cut made by the dibble. Means is provided to dislodge the seedling from the planter into the cut. Detection means is provided for detecting when the dibble has cut to a predetermined depth into the ground, and for activating the dislodging means whenever that depth is reached. The arm is swung regularly toward and away from the ground, such that the dislodging means fails to operate if the dibble achieves less than the pre-determined depth due to an obstacle. Thus seedlings are planted only where no obstacles are located.