An apparatus for producing a food item contains a cultivation component for cultivating and preparing an edible cultivated ingredient, and a device for preparing an edible external ingredient, which is not cultivated in the apparatus. The apparatus also has processing devices, which are intended to produce a food item from at least one cultivated ingredient and at least one external ingredient. The apparatus further has a control unit, which is intended to determine a recipe for producing a first food item. The recipe indicates ingredients and process steps for producing the first food item. The control unit is also intended to cause the processing devices to produce the first food item in accordance with the recipe.

The system includes a pre-fabricated garden seedsheet, with seeds and soil embedded in water-soluble pods within a weed barrier fabric. Each water-soluble pod is fabricated from dissolvable material, which are affixed together to form cavities in which seeds and soil are applied. The pods are then affixed to the weed barrier matrix in an arrangement dictated by the plant algorithm. Upon contact with water, the pods rapidly dissolve, thereby beginning the germination process in which the seeds sprout and emerge through the aligned openings in the weed barrier fabric. The selection of plants and their physical arrangement within each seedsheet may be determined by a software-driven plant algorithm that extrapolates plant characteristics, environmental requirements, and companion benefits. The algorithm may be used both on the customer-facing software program, as well as the in-house design process to create pre-designed seed sheets.

An aeroponic basket system and method of use in is disclosed herein. The aeroponic basket system for use in aeroponic plant growth includes a germination basket having a basket area including at least four sidewalls defining at least four openings, and a base portion, coupled to the at least four sidewalls, the base defining at least one opening, the germination basket comprising compostable material. The germination basket further having an interface lip extending around a periphery of the basket area opposite the base portion, the interface lip configured to interface with an aeroponic plant growth surface, the interface lip comprising a u-shaped channel that extends around a periphery of the basket area, the u-shaped channel oriented toward the base portion. The aeroponic basket system for use in aeroponic plant growth includes an organic germination media configured to be housed within the basket area.

A modular agriculture system for use underwater. The system comprises a plurality of node elements (101) each including an agricultural unit and a plurality of connection elements (201) for inter-connecting at least some of said nodes to form a mesh-like structure with nodes at the mesh junctions. A significant portion of said connection elements (201) are of low cross section such that when in use and placed underwater they present a low resistance to the action of waves and currents. A plurality of tensioning elements are connected to the mesh-like structure to place the connection elements (201) in tension.

A tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth is set forth devised to support germination and plant growth upon an exterior surface. Water moves under osmotic pressure from a water storage volume disposed in osmotic communication with the ceramic, through the ceramic to become available water at the exterior surface. A graduated cross-section regulates water flow from a water storage volume through to the exterior surface along a pressure gradient exerted by the water head. Plant growth is facilitated within a plurality of tessellated indentations disposed upon the exterior surface and growth may be restricted from areas of the exterior surface by application of gloss, glaze, sealants and/or other surface features that may blend design elements to augment and support a living design.

Systems and methods suitable for growing, identifying, and tracking plugs and plants using radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices, as well as methods for making such systems. Such a method includes providing a biodegradable pot assembly and a non-biodegradable RFID module. The pot assembly has an assembly basewall and assembly sidewalls contiguous with the assembly basewall to define a cavity within the pot assembly. The RFID module is embedded within the assembly basewall, has openings therethrough, and comprises an RFID device configured to communicate with an RFID reader and store information identifying the pot assembly. The roots of a seedling grown in a growing medium within the pot assembly grow through and entangle the RFID module. Data is stored on the RFID device to identify the seedling, and an RFID reader is used to communicate with the RFID device to receive the data from the RFID device and identify the seedling.

Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining optimum placement, within a grow space, of plants of different varieties. Sets of reference environmental setpoints each correspond to a desired predicted performance of a respective plant variety. Environmental condition metrics at different positions within the grow space are determined. An allocation of the plants is determined among different volumetric regions within the grow space based on predicted performance of the plant varieties as a function of position within the grow space.

A system and method for growing and protecting tree seedlings is provided. The system includes potting tubes that may function as a pot for growing seedlings and additionally as a tree guard for protecting transplanted tree seedlings from pests. The potting tubes are open at both ends and may be secured to a bottom end cap for use as a pot. After a growth period, the end cap can be removed and the tree can be transplanted with the tube surrounding the tree for use as a tree guard. The system includes a tray with end caps attached to the tray for transporting and transplanting large numbers of tree seedlings.

A novel collapsible plant support includes a collapsible coil adapted to rest on a flat surface. In a particular embodiment, the collapsible plant support includes a plurality of vertical support structures coupled to the collapsible coil so as to provide additional support. In another particular embodiment, a collapsible plant support includes plant receptacle receiving element that supports both a collapsible coil and also a plant receptacle. In a more particular embodiment, the plant receptacle receiving element includes fluid ducts for connecting multiple plant receptacle receiving elements into a fluid network. In another embodiment, the coil is disposed within a helical sleeve coupled to a flexible, cylindrical mesh.

A horticultural container includes a tag slot for receiving a display tag. The tag slot has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced widthwise from one another, and one of the inner or outer walls has at least two curved peaks separated by a valley and extending into the slot towards the other of the inner or outer wall to hold the tag against the other of the inner or outer wall. The peaks provide a radius that reduces cracking of the tag and increases longevity thereof, and reduces tag sagging, collapsing, or curling.