Plant growing system, plant carrier and method of growing vertically grown plants
A plant growing system—for growing vertically grown plants, particularly of the fruit bearing type. The system includes at least one track having at least two guides extending substantially parallel at a distance from each other, and a plurality of plant carriers each comprising a gutter for holding plants. The plant carriers extend transversally with respect to the track and are movable along the track. The plant carriers are suspended from the track. A plant carrier used in such a system. A method of growing vertically grown plants, in particular of the fruit bearing type, includes providing plants in gutters of plant carriers and moving the plant carriers along at least one track while suspending the plant carriers from the at least one track.
1 . A plant growing system for growing vertically grown plants, the system comprising:
at least one substantially horizontal track, comprising at least two guides extending substantially horizontally and substantially parallel at a distance from each other; and
a plurality of plant carriers, each comprising a gutter for holding plants, the plant carriers extending transversally with respect to the track, the plant carriers being movable along the track and the at least two guides,
wherein the plant carriers are suspended from the at least two guides; and
wherein optionally the gutters extend at distance below the track;
wherein each plant carrier further comprises, on or near either end thereof, a rigid suspension element, for suspending the gutter from a respective one of the at least two guides; and
wherein each carrier further comprises one or more supports which extend between the rigid suspension elements at a distance above the gutter, optionally at mutually different heights.
2 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein each plant carrier further comprises one or more diagonal braces extending between a respective free end zone of the rigid suspension element and a central zone of the gutter; and
wherein the plant growing system optionally comprises one or more diagonal braces extending along opposite long sides of each plant carrier.
3 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein the gutter of each plant carrier comprises two longitudinal ends, and further comprises a water inlet near one or both of said longitudinal ends; and
wherein optionally each gutter extends, at at least one longitudinal end thereof, beyond a corresponding suspension element.
4 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein the gutter of each plant carrier comprises a lid substantially closing the gutter, the lid being provided with through holes along its length.
5 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein the gutter of each plant carrier comprises at least one water outlet in a central zone as seen along its length.
6 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein the gutter of each plant carrier comprises several spacers for maintaining a mutual distance between plants in the gutter.
7 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , further comprising several tracks arranged in parallel; and
optionally further comprising:
a track switching system for moving plant carriers from one track to another; and/or
a climate control system, said climate control system being configured to provide a first controlled climate along a first track, and a different, second controlled climate along the second track.
8 . The plant growing system according to claim 7 , comprising a crop handling area and a growing area, wherein at least one track is arranged in the crop handling area and at least one track is arranged in the growing area.
9 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , wherein the plant growing system is an indoor plant growing system, optionally a greenhouse plant growing system.
10 . The plant growing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive for driving the plant carriers along the at least one track, and
wherein optionally the drive is configured for changing the distance between consecutive plant carriers.
11 . A plant carrier for use in a plant growing system according to claim 1 .
12 . A method of growing vertically grown plants, the method comprising:
a) providing plants in gutters of plant carriers;
b) moving the plant carriers along at least one substantially horizontal track, wherein step b) comprises suspending the plant carriers from the at least one substantially horizontal track; and
c) draining water at or near a central zone of each gutter.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
growing the plants in a growing area, and
performing operations, optionally exclusively, in a crop handling area; and
optionally further comprising:
circulating the plant carriers between the growing area and the crop handling area.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
providing several tracks with gutters with plants; and
controlling a climate of an environment in which the method is performed differently from one track to another.
15 . The method according to a claim 12 , further comprising:
changing a distance between consecutive plant carriers.
16 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
watering the plants by supplying water to the gutters at or near one or both of its longitudinal ends.
17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method is a method of growing vertically grown plants of the fruit bearing type.
18 . A plant growing system for growing vertically grown plants, the system comprising:
at least one substantially horizontal track, comprising at least two guides extending substantially horizontally and substantially parallel at a distance from each other; and
a plurality of plant carriers, each comprising a gutter for holding plants, the plant carriers extending transversally with respect to the track, the plant carriers being movable along the track and the at least two guides,
wherein the plant carriers are suspended from the at least two guides;
wherein optionally the gutters extend at distance below the track;
wherein each plant carrier further comprises, on or near either end thereof, a rigid suspension element, for suspending the gutter from a respective one of the at least two guides;
wherein each plant carrier further comprises one or more diagonal braces, extending between a respective free end zone of the rigid suspension element and a central zone of the gutter; and
wherein the plant growing system optionally comprises one or more diagonal braces extending along opposite long sides of each plant carrier.