A system for growing plants and monitoring the growth of plants, comprising a gardening system and a server. The gardening system comprises a frame that defines a housing for receiving a tray of plants. The gardening system also has a lighting subsystem and watering subsystem to provide light and water to the plants. Sensors and cameras of the gardening system may capture data corresponding to the conditions of the gardening system and health of the plant. Based on the captured data, the server may use machine learning to determine optimal plant growing thresholds, and may send a control command to a controller of the gardening system to change one or more conditions of the gardening system. The plants grown by the system may be nutritious, and the bioavailability of the nutrients of the plants may be increased.

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. Each container may be provided with connectors having a push fit male connector located at a top edge of the container and a female connector at a bottom edge of the container. Adjacent containers in a stack can be linked by routing means, which form moldings on each container. The connectors can also have spring-loaded contacts. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

A storage system is disclosed where goods can be stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of rails (e.g., tracks) on which load handling devices can run. To take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked. The framework may be provided with one or more of the following exemplary services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensors, and data logging devices. The provision of these services within the framework rather than across the system as a whole, can allow for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

An automatic vertical farming system may include a frame defining at least one growth area and configured to support a plurality of vertical plant growth structures within the at least one growth area. The system may include at least one light, at least one liquid conduit, and at least one gas conduit. The system may include at least one robot disposed on a top side of the frame and movably supported by the frame. The at least one robot may include at least one tool configured to manipulate the plurality of vertical plant growth structures. The system may include a control system including at least one processor configured to automatically control illumination by the at least one light, liquid flow through the at least one liquid conduit, gas flow through the at least one gas conduit, and operation of the at least one robot.

A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, a grow tower rotatably mounted within the liner and defining a root chamber, a hydration system comprising a water supply tank for storing water, a supply conduit fluidly coupling the water supply tank to a discharge nozzle, a supply pump for selectively urging the water through the discharge nozzle and a water level sensor operably coupled to the water supply tank. A controller obtains a water level of the water in the water supply tank using the water level sensor, determines a conservative water supply schedule based at least in part on the water level, and operates the hydration system to provide the water in accordance with the conservative water supply schedule, the conservative water supply schedule providing the water at a slower average hydration rate relative to the standard water supply schedule.

A vertical farming system promoting uniform crop airflow in an enclosure may include a crop suspension system including crop containers, suspension extensions connected to the crop containers, and an upper support disposed at an upper side of the enclosure and connected to the suspension extensions. The system may further include a ventilation system including a main upper airway disposed at the upper side of the enclosure, upper branch airways in fluid communication with the main upper airway and disposed at the upper side of the enclosure, a main lower airway disposed at a lower side of the enclosure, and lower branch airways in fluid communication with the main lower airway. The suspension extensions may include subgroups of different lengths relative to the upper support.

Growing systems may include a number of modular growing chambers adapted to be configured in a stacked arrangement with each growing chamber surrounding a corresponding portion of the plant. The grow chambers may be selectively added or removed during plant growth, such that different sections of the growing plant may be influenced differently using aeroponic, hydroponic or other growing techniques. The grow chamber stack may be portable and provided with integrated or independent lifting devices to assist an operator in adding or removing chambers from the stack. Three growing processes may be facilitated using such systems. These include a process for producing assorted product from a single plant for simultaneous harvest, a process for producing an extended harvest of a desired size product from a single plant, and a process for extending the productive life of a plant and provide for multiple, continued, and perpetual harvest.

Plant holder for a hydroponic growth system, comprising a body having a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, where the plant holder comprises a first conduit having a rear wall and a front wall, where the plant holder comprises a plant hopper with a plant mouth arranged at the top section, where the first conduit comprises a sloping bottom wall having an outlet opening arranged at the bottom section, where the plant holder further comprises a lid arranged at the plant mouth, where the lid comprises a collector plate extending from the interior of the first conduit into the plant hopper, where the collector plate ends outside of the periphery of the plant holder.

Growing systems may include a number of modular growing chambers adapted to be configured in a stacked arrangement with each growing chamber surrounding a corresponding portion of the plant. The grow chambers may be selectively added or removed during plant growth, such that different sections of the growing plant may be influenced differently using aeroponic, hydroponic or other growing techniques. The grow chamber stack may be portable and provided with integrated or independent lifting devices to assist an operator in adding or removing chambers from the stack. Three growing processes may be facilitated using such systems. These include a process for producing assorted product from a single plant for simultaneous harvest, a process for producing an extended harvest of a desired size product from a single plant, and a process for extending the productive life of a plant and provide for multiple, continued, and perpetual harvest.

Foldable plant pot with removable hooking for the configuration of vertical gardens that is manufactured from a foldable flat square structure manipulated by folds and cuts to obtain a conical reservoir with angular shapes. It has a hooking system that allows them to be suspended in vertical structures, preferably of the mesh type, thanks to the pressure generated by the folds of the material and which also allow it to come off when this pressure is reduced so that it can be placed elsewhere. When the plant is moved, it is not affected as its root remains intact in the conical reservoir and the stem is secured by a support ring which prevents it from dropping in the event of sudden movements. In the same way, it has containment flaps that partially close the conical reservoir and prevent the substrate from being extracted by external agents such as sudden movements, winds, birds, etc. As a whole, it is possible to work with vertical garden designs considering the plants as pixel units in order to create figures, letters, logos, etc. It is a very clean system that does not require prepared soil (clay, sand, etc.) and uses little water. The irrigation system only requires a hose with drippers at the top that distribute the water to vertical rows of the plant pot.A