Disclosed herein is a high growth, high density, closed environment growing system and methods thereof. A method of accelerating plant cell growth in a growing system may include adjusting the lighting in accordance with an identified plant growth stage.

A seed germinating container allowing germination of seeds under controlled circumstances. The container may make use of a lid containing an opening covered by a mesh strainer allowing for easy removal of water during washing of seeds. The opening is sealable with a cover which may be opened to a variable degree. A seed elevating mesh may support the seeds at a controlled height above the bottom of the container. A porous seed bag containing a measured portion of seeds may be inserted into the germinator for further precision and cleanliness of the germination container.

A seed germinating container allowing germination of seeds under controlled circumstances. The container may make use of a lid containing an opening covered by a mesh strainer allowing for easy removal of water during washing of seeds. The opening is sealable with a cover which may be opened to a variable degree. A seed elevating mesh may support the seeds at a controlled height above the bottom of the container. A porous seed bag containing a measured portion of seeds may be inserted into the germinator for further precision and cleanliness of the germination container.

Disclosed herein are bed seed holders and assembly line grow pods incorporating bed seed holders for growing plants. According to some embodiments, a bed seed holder includes a body having an elevation envelope, at least one seed receptacle extending into the body, where the seed receptacle is adapted to maintain a fluid within the seed receptacle, and a spigot that is adapted to maintain a level of the fluid within the body below the elevation envelope.

An automated system for sampling seeds generally includes an automated sampling station having a sampler configured to remove material from a seed while protecting germination viability of the seed, a seed conveyor configured to receive the seed from out of the sampling station after the material is removed from the seed, and a sample conveyor configured to receive the material removed from the seed. The sample conveyor is configured to locate the material removed from the seed in a sample container, and the seed conveyor is configured to locate the seed from which the material is removed in a seed container so as to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seed and the material removed from the seed.

Embodiments herein disclosed relate to a computer-controlled germination system built around a rotating vessel within which a germinating process takes place. The system includes automatable controls over air flow, water flow, temperature, and vessel rotation; and air and water recirculation mechanisms provide energy efficient control over air and water temperature, humidity, and/or CO.sub.2 content.

Embodiments herein disclosed relate to a computer-controlled germination system built around a rotating vessel within which a germinating process takes place. The system includes automatable controls over air flow, water flow, temperature, and vessel rotation; and air and water recirculation mechanisms provide energy efficient control over air and water temperature, humidity, and/or CO.sub.2 content.

The present description relates to cryo-sprouts that have been germinated, grown and shipped in the same container. Seeds are placed on a membrane in the container with sufficient water. The container with the seeds is incubated at a pathogen antagonistic temperature during the growth phase. The pathogen antagonistic temperature is preferably between about 35 F. and about 45 F. The cryo-sprouts grown according to these methods have reduced numbers of pathogenic organisms, are greener and have an extended shelf-life.

A method for breaking dormancy of Thesium chinense Turcz. seeds, which includes: immersing collected seeds of Thesium chinense Turcz. in water, selecting seeds that sink in the water followed by air-drying, and storing at 2-4? C. to obtain to-be-used seeds; immersing the to-be-used seeds in a gibberellin solution, taking out the seeds and mixing with river sand under ?4-2? C. for a first stratification treatment; rinsing off the river sand, removing green skins and stalks of the seeds after the first stratification treatment, keeping the seeds moist and placing the seeds under 2-4? C. for a second stratification treatment to obtain ruptured seeds; and using the ruptured seeds in a three-slit stage as a germination material, and culturing the ruptured seeds in a three-slit stage in a dark environment at 17-22? C. for seed germination. The method can significantly improve the germination rate of Thesium chinense Turcz. seeds.

The present invention relates to a system and method for cultivating an seaweed, preferably Sarcothalia crispata, including releasing spores from seaweed reproductive tissue, inoculating a substrate with spores, germinating the spores and growing seaweed from the germinated spores. The invention also relates to a harvested batch of seaweed having a lambda carrageenan content of at least about 80 wt. % based on mass of all carrageenans and wherein the mass of seaweed is at least 100 kg, more preferably at least 500 kg and most preferably at least 1000 kg.