Tray assemblies are provided for use in treating and planting batches of seeds. In one example embodiment, a tray assembly includes a first tray and a second tray configured to couple to the first tray. The first tray includes multiple wells each configured to receive a seed. And, the second tray includes multiple openings configured to align with the wells of the first tray when the second tray is coupled to the first tray. The tray assembly also includes a first divider positioned between the first tray and the second tray, and a second divider coupled to the first tray. The first divider is configured to allow selective movement of seeds from the openings of the second tray to the wells of the first tray, and the second divider is configured to allow selective movement of seeds out of the wells of the first tray.

A planting unit and a planter including such planting units are provided. The planting unit may include a housing having a mounting space for placing a planting bed material therein, a water reservoir portion that reserves planting water for the planting bed material mounted in the mounting space, and a front face opening portion allowing exposure therethrough of the planting bed material mounted in the mounting space. At an upper portion of the housing, a water feeding portion that feeds water to the water reservoir portion is formed. At a lower portion of the housing, a water discharging portion that discharges the water in the water reservoir portion is formed. On side portions of the housing, there is a communication portion allowing communication between the water reservoir portion and a water reservoir portion of another planting unit.

A harvest tray for carrying potted herbs, the harvest tray including a rectangular base portion, having two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides, wherein an extension direction of the two long sides defines a longitudinal direction of the harvest tray, a pair of side walls, each side wall arranged in the direction of the long sides of the base portion, respectively, and extending in a vertical direction from the base portion, said side walls defining two sides of a reception cavity, dividing elements, arranged in a row in said reception cavity, said dividing elements being distanced from the side walls defining the reception cavity, at least along a portion of their height, such that an open passage is formed on each side of the row of dividing elements along a portion of the height of the reception cavity in the longitudinal direction of said harvest tray.

A plant-growing system can include a reservoir system and at least one pod. The reservoir system can include a base configured to hold a liquid and a top plate comprising at least one pod holder, where the top plate can be supported by the base. The at least one pod can be configured to be removably inserted in the at least one pod holder. The at least one pod can include a support plate, a wick comprising a first end and a second end, and a seed pad, where the wick can be positioned between the support plate and the seed pad.

A method for producing, without the help of a substrate, a plurality of rooted cuttings includes inserting at least one unrooted cutting into pockets arranged successively in a longitudinal direction of a strip element. Each pocket has an opening at a top side facing a transverse direction and a bottom side that is at least partially closed. The strip element is formed at least in part of biodegradable material having a liquid retaining capacity of at least about 100 g liquid per 100 g of biodegradable material dry weight. The strip element has first and second wall-forming members fixed to each other in a spacer area adjacent each pocket and arranged to at least partly overlap in the longitudinal direction and to not fully overlap in the transverse direction. The first wall-forming member extends past the second wall-forming member in the transverse direction at the top side of each pocket.

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 package 10 comprises a main body 12 for containing a seed lubricant; and a chamber 24 for retaining microorganisms in a viable state, wherein the main body 12 and the chamber 24 are separated by a disruptable dividing member 32, and further comprising a mechanism for disrupting the dividing member 32 such that the seed lubricant and the microorganisms may be blended just prior to deployment on a seed planter and wherein the main body 12, the chamber 24 and the disrupting member form an integral package suitable for providing the blend of seed lubricant and viable microorganisms to seeds in a seed planter.

A modular farm system having a hub container and pluralities of farm containers connectable to the hub container. A passageway is provided between the hub container and each farm container. The hub container includes a shared workspace and at least one shared utility for distribution among the farm containers. Each farm container includes a work zone and a grow zone. A plurality of plant panels and a lighting system are mounted for growing plants in a controlled environment within the grow zone.

Tray assemblies for germinating and growing plant seeds are provided. Preferably, the tray assemblies comprise outer trays, inner trays, inner divider frames, and covers. The dividers or partitions of the inner divider frame form a plurality of compartments across the frame. Each compartment is configured to receive at least one seed for germination and growth. Seeds are placed in in the compartments and allowed to float in water and/or sit in humid air. A cover is placed over the divider frame to block-out light and retain heat. Once the seeds have germinated, they can be placed in a growth medium that helps promote the plant growth and development.