A movable horticulture tray carrier system including a plurality of horticulture trays. Each one of the plurality of horticulture trays defines a plurality of growing cells. A stand includes a plurality of vertical supports spaced apart along a length of the stand. A horizontal support extends along the length of the stand between at least two of the plurality of vertical supports. The stand is configured to support the plurality of horticulture trays above a surface that the plurality of vertical supports are seated on to provide an air gap between a lower surface of each one of the plurality of growing cells and the surface that the plurality of vertical supports are seated on, the air gap facilitates root pruning, facilitates lateral root growth to reduce root circling, and facilitates disease prevention of plants being grown in the plurality of growing cells.

A green roof planter module includes a planter including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls that cooperate with one another to define an interior space configured to receive an aggregate and plant matter therein, the bottom wall including at least one aperture extending therethrough, a basin including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, wherein the bottom wall of the basin and the side walls of the basin cooperate to define a fluid retention space, wherein the planter is supported above the basin, and a fluid wicking member providing fluid communication from the fluid retention space of the basin to the at least one aperture of the bottom wall of the planter, such that the fluid wicking member is configured to transfer fluid from the fluid retention space of the basin to the aggregate and plant matter located with the interior space of the planter.

The present disclosure is directed to improved vertical farming using autonomous systems and methods for growing edible plants, using improved stacking and shelving units configured to allow for gravity-based irrigation, gravity-based loading and unloading, along with a system for autonomous rotation, incorporating novel plant-growing pallets, while being photographed and recorded by camera systems incorporating three dimensional/multispectral cameras, with the images and data recorded automatically sent to a database for processing and for gauging plant health, pest and/or disease issues, and plant life cycle. The present disclosure is also directed to novel harvesting methods, novel modular lighting, novel light intensity management systems, real time vision analysis that allows for the dynamic adjustment and optimization of the plant growing environment, and a novel rack structure system that allows for simplified building and enlarging of vertical farming rack systems.

A method of sowing watermelon seeds includes seeding triploid watermelon seeds and watermelon pollinizer seeds in separate cells within a seedling tray. The triploid watermelon seeds produce seedless watermelons and the pollinizer seeds produce seeded watermelons. The seeded watermelons are not inherently bred to have reduced competition to plants grown from the triploid watermelon seeds.

Growing system for growing plants, for example vegetables and ornamental plants, includes a container tray (1) which is floatably arranged in a liquid reservoir (14). The container tray (1) is configured to float on nutrient water (6) during use and has at least one opening (4) which is arranged in a tray bottom (2) of the container tray (1) for bringing a growth substrate (11) which is arranged on the container tray (1) into contact with the nutrient water (6). The container tray (1) is a substantially flat container tray (1) which includes an upright tray edge (3), and wherein the at least one opening (4) has an upright opening edge (5) having a height which is such that the growth substrate (11) is situated above a water line of the nutrient water (6) during use.

The present teachings provide for a horticulture tray including a growing cell. The growing cell can include a first end, a second end, and a sidewall. The first end can define a first aperture. The second end can be opposite to the first end. The sidewall can define a plurality of arcuate shaped chambers that can extend longitudinally between the first and second ends. Each arcuate shaped chamber can define a plant supporting portion proximate to and spaced apart from the second end. Each arcuate shaped chamber can continuously taper from the first end to the plant supporting portion at a first rate and can continuously taper from the plant supporting portion to the second end at a second rate. The second rate can be greater than the first rate.

An embodiment provides an agricultural system comprising a plurality of trays, each tray being suitable for holding a substrate in which a crop can grow, a structure for supporting the plurality of trays in a stacked arrangement, the system further comprising a lighting system for delivering light to the crops and a nutrient supply system for supplying nutrients to the crops and at least one service module for lifting a selected tray and for moving the selected tray relative to the frame and the other trays along any one of a plurality of preconfigured paths, wherein the service module comprises an internal power source for powering said lifting of the selected tray and moving of the selected tray along a path.

Thermoformed double tray system for cultivation of plants including a top tray which is stacked with a bottom tray. The top tray has cells for receiving a substrate. The bottom tray provides rigidity to the double tray system. The bottom tray has a baseplate which is provided with support elements to support the top tray. The baseplate has an outer edge which defines the outer contour of the bottom tray. A groove shaped deepening in the baseplate is extending in parallel with the outer edge. The deepening increases a bending stiffness of the bottom tray and provides rigidity to the double tray system. The deepening is provided with a reinforcing ribs which cross the deepening.

A seedling nursery member for grafting according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes at least one seedling nursery unit. At least one seedling nursery unit includes a stem storage section configured to store a stem of a plant and a stem holder configured to hold the stem of the plant. At least a portion of the stem storage section of the at least one seedling nursery unit is configured to be openable so as to allow communication between an inside of the stem storage section and an outside of the at least one seedling nursery unit in a direction different from a growth direction of the plant.

The present disclosure is directed to improved vertical farming using autonomous systems and methods for growing edible plants, using improved stacking and shelving units configured to allow for gravity-based irrigation, gravity-based loading and unloading, along with a system for autonomous rotation, incorporating novel plant-growing pallets, while being photographed and recorded by camera systems incorporating three dimensional/multispectral cameras, with the images and data recorded automatically sent to a database for processing and for gauging plant health, pest and/or disease issues, and plant life cycle. The present disclosure is also directed to novel harvesting methods, novel modular lighting, novel light intensity management systems, real time vision analysis that allows for the dynamic adjustment and optimization of the plant growing environment, and a novel rack structure system that allows for simplified building and enlarging of vertical farming rack systems.