A system for sowing seeds in cells of a germination tray or other container and related methods of operation are disclosed. The system may include a conveyor configured to move the germination tray in a conveying direction, a seed storage container configured to hold a plurality of seeds, a seed sowing machine, and a seed diverting mechanism. The seed sowing machine may be configured to transfer the seeds from the seed storage container along at least one seed transport path and into respective cells of the germination tray as the conveyor moves the germination tray in the conveying direction. The seed diverting mechanism may be configured to selectively divert seeds from the at least one seed transport path such that the diverted seeds are not deposited in cells of the germination tray during operation.

A portable seeding device for seed planting in a seed tray includes a seed holding plate having perforations for retaining a supply of seed on said plate and distributing the seeds on said holding plate. A vacuum chamber accumulates vacuum pressure and is in contact with the seed holding plate. A vacuum generator applies a vacuum effect within the vacuum chamber. A handle formed on the vacuum chamber allows single-handed manipulation of the seeding device. The vacuum generator is formed integral to the handle. Upon applied vacuum effect within the vacuum chamber, vacuum draw is applied to the seeds on the holding plate such that the seeds are held onto the perforations of the seed holding plate. The device is thereafter held invertedly over the seed tray and the vacuum effect is ceased, whereupon the seeds are released from the perforations into the seed tray to plant the seeds.

The present invention may relate to Aeroponic Systems and their individual elements. More particularly to automated systems capable of monitoring and adjusting some if not all of the light, nutrient, water quality and environmental factors required for the propagation and sustained growth of all types of plants. It may also describe methods to support the plants during propagation from seeds and for growth and harvesting. It may describe various methodologies for reducing space requirements and for increasing plant density without detriment to the growth cycles.

Provided herein is a method for sowing an individual seed in a seed location and to a seeder therefor. The method includes arranging a seed on a surface adjacent to an opening that leads to a guide channel that extends to the seed location; flushing the seed from the surface into the opening by directing a fluid over the surface in the direction of the opening; and guiding the seed to a seed location by means of the guide channel. The seeder has at least one opening that leads to a guide channel that extends to a seed location; a surface that is configured to be arranged adjacent to the at least one opening; and a selectively operable fluid supply for each opening, each fluid supply having at least one nozzle that is arranged for directing fluid over the surface in the direction of the opening.

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.

The present invention relates to a smart seeder which significantly enhances efficiency in individual seed separation by enabling the seeds supplied onto a transfer plate to be spread more easily so that the seeds do not overlap, and consequently by enabling the seeds to be separated individually. Furthermore, the smart seeder can not only significantly reduce production costs due to the simple structure thereof, but also significantly enhance seed separation efficiency by separating one or multiple seeds, which may comprise fine seeds, such as lettuce seeds, or the like, whether the seeds are small seeds or large seeds.

A method for tracking seeds in an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of carts is provided. A target seed is deposited in a selected cell which is a part of a selected tray located in a selected cart travelling on an assembly line grow pod. A position of the target seed is tracked in the selected cell by determining the position of the target seed in the selected cart and determining a position of the selected cart in the assembly line grow pod. Sustenance is provided to the target seed including the selected cell. A growth factor of the target seed is determined in the selected cell. Upon determination that the growth factor of the target seed in the selected cell is below a predetermined threshold, supply of the sustenance provided to the selected cell is adjusted.

Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating crop control hardware are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a master controller with a plurality of bays and being communicatively coupled to components of the grow pod, a crop control module within one of the bays such that the crop control module is communicatively coupled to the master controller and the components of the grow pod, and a second control module in one of the bays, which is removably insertable such that it is removable from the bay without altering the assembly line grow pod functionality. The crop control module is programmed to sense a removal of the second control module, determine control signals necessary to maintain an operation of the grow pod and the components of the grow pod, and provide the control signals to the grow pod or the components of the grow pod.

An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.

Systems and methods for providing an assembly line grow pod are provided. One embodiment of a grow pod includes an exterior enclosure that defines an environmentally enclosed volume, a track that that is shaped into a plurality of helical structures defining a path, and a cart that receives a plant and traverses the track. Some embodiments include a sensor for determining output of the plant, a plurality of environmental affecters that alter an environment of the environmentally enclosed volume to alter the output of the plant, and a pod computing device that stores a grow recipe that, when executed by a processor of the pod computing device, actuates at least one of the plurality of environmental affecters. In some embodiments, the grow recipe alters a planned actuation of the at least one of the plurality of environmental affecters in response to data from the sensor indicating a current output of the plant.