A garden seed planter that displays a color for identifying the type of garden product that will be produced by a plant from a seed contained in a starch capsule of the garden seed planter. In a preferred lollipop form embodiment at least a portion of the garden seed planter starch capsule has a colored coating that is substantially the same color as the garden product produced by the plant to be grown from the seed, and there is a planter stake attached to the seed capsule having a portion that also displays substantially the same color as the garden product.

Systems and methods for seed germination and planting include: a germinator unit providing an environment for seeds to germinate in water, and means to deliver the germinated seeds in batch form, suspended in an aqueous hydrogel; and a planting unit to accept batches of suspended seeds and dispense the seeds, preferably in singulated manner, to selected locations in a planting environment. The planting unit may be man-portable, mounted on a trailer or autonomous vehicle, or substantially stationary for use in a greenhouse. The planting environment may be a field or it may be a planting tray, pot, or other container for use in a greenhouse.

Systems and methods for seed germination and planting include: a germinator unit providing an environment for seeds to germinate in water, and means to deliver the germinated seeds in batch form, suspended in an aqueous hydrogel; and a planting unit to accept batches of suspended seeds and dispense the seeds, preferably in singulated manner, to selected locations in a planting environment. The planting unit may be man-portable, mounted on a trailer or autonomous vehicle, or substantially stationary for use in a greenhouse. The planting environment may be a field or it may be a planting tray, pot, or other container for use in a greenhouse.

The present invention relates to a growing device for growing plants from seeds, comprising a water container, a seed pad support structure for receiving one or more seed pads in a predetermined growing position above the water container and a wicking structure for each seed pad configured to contact, when the corresponding seed pad is in the growing position, the bottom surface of the seed pad at a predetermined wicking interface area and configured to transport water from the water container into the seed pad through the wicking interface area via capillary action and wherein the seed pad support structure comprises a protrusion for each seed pad, the protrusion having a predetermined shape and orientation and being configured to interact with a correspondingly shaped perforation in the corresponding seed pad thereby defining the predetermined growing position.

The present invention also relates to a corresponding seed pad and a growing system comprising a growing device and one or more seed pads.

A high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of a plurality of small object cassettes is provided. The system comprises: at least one small object cassette having a plurality of small object cells; an automated conveyor system for transporting the cassette(s) from a loading location to a unloading location on the conveyor system; at least one cassette filling station disposed over the conveyor system such that the conveyor system extends under a small object distribution subsystem of each respective cassette filling station; and a computer based central control system structured and operable to control various operations of the conveyor system and each cassette filling station.

A high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of a plurality of small object cassettes is provided. The system comprises: at least one small object cassette having a plurality of small object cells; an automated conveyor system for transporting the cassette(s) from a loading location to a unloading location on the conveyor system; at least one cassette filling station disposed over the conveyor system such that the conveyor system extends under a small object distribution subsystem of each respective cassette filling station; and a computer based central control system structured and operable to control various operations of the conveyor system and each cassette filling station.

An automated system for plant growth may include a reactor to make a hydrogel solution. A hopper with a processor controlled valve or valves may deliver components to make the hydrogel solution in the reactor. The hydrogel solution may be poured into a tray to create a hydrogel mat or a hydrogel plug. A conveyor may move the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug to a nursery on a path in which the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug is seeded and is dibbled or scratched. The nursery may include a first position for a seed to germinate in the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug, and a second position for a plant to grow to a harvest state in the hydrogel mat or the hydrogel plug. The nursery may include a plurality of LED lights suitable for growth of a plant from the germinated seed.

The present invention provides biodegradable projectiles for toy launchers that contain viable seeds. When lost outdoors the projectiles do not pollute the environment but instead degrade naturally and the seeds grow into plants that enhance the landscape.

The present application is directed to a method of applying a plant growing material to a surface of a mold décor, the method comprising flocking at least one aquatic seed to the surface of a mold décor to adhere the at least one aquatic seed to the surface of the mold décor.

A quilted composite sheet containing seeds makes growing microgreens and other crops simple. Each sheet is a layered composite of multiple materials including seed, grow substrate and seed cover. A user can spread a seed quilt over the surface to be planted, water, wait, and harvest.