PLANTING METHOD MAKING USE OF A SUBSTRATE PLUG WITH A PRESS SECTION

Abstract

A method and an assembly of a pre-shaped substrate plug and a container for planting out plant material, of which the plug includes one or more press sections sideways of an upwardly opening plant insertion recess. The outer wall dimensions of the press sections are larger than inner wall dimensions of corresponding parts of the container, such that during a step of placing the plug in an insertion position into the container, a pressing of the plug into the container needs to be performed for the press sections to be able to fit into the corresponding parts of the container while the press sections compress inwardly in a sideways direction and at least partly decrease the plant insertion recess around a seed or lower plant part which had been placed therein preceding the pressing.

Claims

1. A method for planting out a seed for a plant or a plant, in particular a seedling, cutting or tissue-culture plant, comprising the steps: providing a pre-shaped substrate plug which is equipped with a substantially vertically extending plant insertion recess that opens out towards an upper surface of the plug; providing a container for the plug to fit into; positioning the seed or a lower part of the plant inside the plant insertion recess; and placing the plug in an insertion position into the container, wherein the provided plug comprises one or more press sections sideways of the plant insertion recess, wherein outer wall dimensions of the press sections, in the insertion position, are larger than inner wall dimensions of corresponding parts of the container, and wherein during the step of placing the plug in the insertion position into the container, a pressing of the plug into the container is performed for said press sections to fit into the corresponding parts of the container while said press sections compress inwardly in a sideways direction and at least partly decrease the plant insertion recess around the seed or lower plant part.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the seed or lower plant part inside the plant insertion recess comprises a downwards moving of the seed or plant into the plant insertion recess which downwards moving is continued in one go with a downwards pressing action exerted onto the upper surface of the plug for pressing the press sections into the corresponding container parts and at least partly decrease the plant insertion recess around the seed or lower plant part.

3. the method according to claim 1, wherein preceding the step of positioning the seed or lower plant part inside the plant insertion recess, the plug is pre-placed partly with a lower plug part into an upper part of the container, with which the press sections get supported in an uncompressed state by the corresponding parts of the container.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the provided plug has said press sections extend along an upper plug part, and wherein during the pre-placing of the lower plug part into the upper part of the container, the upper plug part, along which said press sections extend, gets positioned above said upper part of the container.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided container delimits a space with a shape such that the plug fits with its press sections in a non-compressed state therein in a first rotational position and that the plug fits with its press sections in a compressed state therein in a second rotational position which corresponds to the insertion position, the method further comprising the steps: pre-shaping the substrate plug inside the container; moving the pre-shaped plug at least partly out of the container; rotating the pre-shaped plug from the first rotational position to the second rotational insertion position; positioning the seed or lower part of the plant inside the plant insertion recess; and pressing the plug in the second rotational insertion position into the container while said press sections compress inwardly in the sideways direction and at least partly decrease the plant insertion recess around the seed or lower plant part.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided plug comprises at least one reinforcement element with opposite segments which lie at opposing sides of the plant insertion recess, wherein, during the step of pressing of the plug into the container, the reinforcement element gets deformed from a first towards a second position together with the inwards compressing of the press sections, in which second position the opposite segments come to lie closer towards each other compared to the first position.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, during the step of pressing of the plug into the container, the reinforcement element gets plastically deformed or locked such that the element is able to substantially maintain its second position after having been deformed thereto.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the seed or lower plant part is pre-placed in an auxiliary organ that together get positioned inside the plant insertion recess.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the step of positioning the seed or a lower part of the plant inside the plant insertion recess and/or during the step of pressing of the plug into the container, a temporary blocking organ that extends at least partly inside the recess, gets removed or destructed.

10. An assembly of a pre-shaped substrate plug and a container, in particular for use in the method according to claim 1, in which the plug is equipped with a substantially vertically extending plant insertion recess that opens out towards an upper surface of the plug, wherein the plug further comprises one or more press sections sideways of the plant insertion recess, wherein outer wall dimensions of the press sections are larger than inner wall dimensions of corresponding parts of the container.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein differences between the outer wall dimensions of the press sections and the inner wall dimensions of the corresponding parts of the container are equal to or larger than thicknesses of the plant insertion recess to be decreased, in particular at least 3 mm larger.

12. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plant insertion recess has varying thicknesses over its height and/or width.

13. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the press sections are delimited by downwards tapering outer walls.

14. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plug comprises an upper and lower plug part, wherein the press sections extend along the upper plug part, and wherein the lower plug part has outer wall dimensions which are equal to or smaller than inner wall dimensions of a corresponding lower part of the container.

15. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the container delimits a space with a shape such that the plug fits with the press sections in a non-compressed state therein in a first rotational position and that the plug fits with the press sections in a compressed state therein in a second rotational position which corresponds to the insertion position.

16. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plant insertion recess extends over the entire width and height of an upper plug part, and wherein segments of the upper plug part lying on opposite sides of the plant insertion recess are hingedly connected with each other by means of a lower plug part.

17. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the press sections extends at least over the height of the plant insertion recess.

18. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the substrate plug including its press sections is made out of a compressible substrate material.

19. The assembly according to claim 10. wherein the provided plug comprises at least one reinforcement element with opposite segments which lie at opposing sides of the plant insertion recess, such that, during a step of pressing of the plug to fit into the container, the reinforcement element gets deformed from a first towards a second position together with an inwards compressing of the press sections, in which second position the opposite segments come to lie closer towards each other compared to the first position.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the reinforcement element has a V- or U-shape, with upwardly projecting legs of the V- or U-shape being formed by the opposite segments.

21. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the opposite segments extend over substantially the entire height of the plant insertion recess.

22. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the reinforcement element has at least partly been connected to or embedded inside substrate material of the plug.

23. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the reinforcement element is at least partly made out of a plastically deformable material, in particular metal, such that it is able to maintain the opposite segments in the second position in which they lie closer to each other after the plug has been pressed to fit into the container.

24. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the reinforcement element comprises a locking mechanism between its opposite segments, such that it is able to maintain the opposite segments in the second position in which they lie closer to each other after the plug has been pressed to fit into the container.

25. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein a temporary blocking organ is provided that extends at least partly inside the recess.

26. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein two or more of the plant insertion recesses are provided.

27. A pre-shaped substrate plug for use in the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention shall now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the pre-shaped plug according to the invention in a non-compressed state;

[0042] FIGS. 2a-b show a perspective and cross-sectional view of an assembly of the pre-shaped plugs of FIG. 1 and a tray of containers during a planting operation;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the pre-shaped plug of FIG. 1 in a compressed state;

[0044] FIGS. 4a-b are views similar to FIG. 2a-b with a variant of the pre-shaped plug;

[0045] FIGS. 5-8 show variants of assemblies of pre-shaped plugs and containers in a non-compressed and compressed state;

[0046] FIGS. 9a-d shows an assembly of a further variant of an assembly of plug and container in four stages of a planting operation;

[0047] FIG. 10 shows a variant of FIG. 1 with reinforcement elements;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a view according to FIG. 2b of the variant of FIG. 10;

[0049] FIGS. 12-15 shows the variants of FIG. 5-8 including various types of reinforcement elements;

[0050] FIGS. 16a-c shows three planting stages of a variant with planting material already being growing inside an auxiliary plug organ (without the container being shown);

[0051] FIG. 17 shows a variant of the plug having two recesses; and

[0052] FIG. 18 shows a variant of the plug having a blocking organ inside its recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] A pre-shaped substrate plug has been given the reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1. This plug 1 is made out of flexible compressible substrate material. It has a central axis A and a substantially frusto-conical outer wall 2. A recess 3 for a seed or plant to be inserted into, has been provided in an upper part of the plug 1. This recess 3 comprises a cylindrical central hole section 3a, two vertically extending groove sections 3b, and a horizontally extending groove section 3c. The recess 3 opens out with the hole and groove sections 3a, 3b towards an upper surface 4 of the plug 1. The grooves 3b and 3c extend over the entire width of the plug 1 and thus open out towards the outer wall 2.

[0054] The plug 1 comprises three pairs of press sections 5a-c which are provided at diametrically opposite positions relative to the recess 3. Each of the press sections 5 is formed as an elongate tapering rounded rib which projects outwardly bulging from the wall 2. The press sections 5 extend downwards along the outer wall 2 while gradually tapering towards the same diameter as the outer wall 2. Outer wall dimensions d1, d2 of the press sections 5 are larger than the diameter Dp of the frusto-conical outer wall 2. How much larger depends on the height along the plug 1. The maximum differences between D and d1, d2 are designed to be larger than the thickness t of the groove sections 3b.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows how a number of the plugs 1 can used for planting out plants 8 in containers 9 of a tray. With this each container 9 delimits a frusto-conical container space that is substantially complementary to the frusto-conical outer plug wall 2, that is to say the container 9 has a gradually downwardly decreasing inner diameter Dc which substantially corresponds to the gradually downwardly decreasing diameter Dp of the plug 1. Furthermore the container 9 and the plug 1 here have been designed with substantially same heights h.

[0056] The assembly of plugs 1 and containers 9 can now advantageously be used as follows:

[0057] Firstly the plugs 1 are pre-placed partly with their lower plug parts into upper parts of the containers 9. This is referred to as an intermediate plant positioning position. With this the press sections 5 get to lie against upper edges of the containers 9, while the recess 3 is still fully open.

[0058] Subsequently a robot arm 10 each time picks up a plant 8 and carefully and gently moves this plant 8 with a lower part into the open recess 3 of one of the plugs 1. Then in one continuous go the robot arm 10 starts to exert a downwards pressing force onto the upper surface 4 of this plug 1. This causes the plug 1 to get entirely pressed into its container 9. Since the press sections 5 are overdesigned relative to the corresponding upper part of the container 9, they are forced to progressively compress radially inwardly. Because of this the recess 3 automatically starts to progressively close or otherwise decrease around the lower part of the plant 8 and starts to firmly grip this lower plant part 8.

[0059] As soon as the entire plug 1 has been pressed into its container 9 it has reached its aimed insertion position therein, in which a lower surface of the plug 1 lies against a bottom of the container 9. The robot arm 10 then can be moved away and pick up another plant 8 for placing it into another one of the plugs 1.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the plug 1 without the plant 8 and the container 9 in its compressed state. As can be seen there, the vertical groove sections 3b have fully closed whereas the dimensions of the central hole section 3a and of the horizontal groove section 3c have decreased. This is advantageous because the varying shape of the recess 3, on the one hand results in the plant 8 getting firmly gripped, whereas on the other hand a vulnerable center part of the plant 8, where the leaves originate, does not get fully squeezed. At the same time the sideways opening groove section 3c remains open for roots to quickly start to grow into there. This may for example be advantageous for aerial roots of epiphyte plants to grow into.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a variant in which the plug 1 only comprises one set of opposing press sections 5. Furthermore, this time the recess 3 is formed by a simple wedge-shaped groove which extends over the entire width of the plug 1. Now also the advantageous cooperation between the containers 9 and the plugs 1 can be obtained, in that the recesses 3 automatically shall be forced to close or otherwise decrease when the plugs 1 get pressed into the containers 9. In FIG. 4 the downwards directed pressing force is indicated with Fd, whereas the resulting sideways inwards directed compressing forces are indicated with Fc.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a variant with a plug 50 with an upper plug part 50a and a lower plug part 50b. A plant insertion recess 51 has been provided inside the upper plug part 50a. The lower plug part 50b has been given a frusto-conical shape of which outer walls taper at a first angle. The upper plug part 50a has been given a frusto-conical shape of which outer walls taper at a second angle which is larger than the first angle. Thus the entire upper plug part 50a forms a press section according to the inventive thought. When the plug 50 gets pressed with a downwards directed force Fd into a frusto-conical container 52 which is complementary to the lower plug part 50b, then resulting radially inwards directed compressing forces Fc between the upper plug part 50a and corresponding upper parts of the container 51 shall occur. Those forces Fc shall force the recess 51 to close or otherwise decrease. With this the lower plug part 50b is able to function as a sort of hinged connection for the two segments of the upper plug part 50a.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a variant with a two-part plug 60 and a container 61 which are both made frusto-conical with circumferential outer plug walls and inner container walls which taper under different angles relative to the vertical direction. Since the plug 60 tapers at a larger angle than the container 61, the largest part of the plug 60 now is able to act as the overdesigned press section. As can be seen, a plant insertion recess 62 here also extends over substantially the entire plug height. The plug 60 now can be dropped down into the container 61 and automatically shall remain to hang therein in an intermediate position in which the recess 62 is still open. When subsequently pressed forcedly down further into the container 61, the plug 60 shall be able to reach its aimed end position therein in which it gets to contact the bottom of the container 61. During this pressing down, the entire plant insertion recess 62 automatically shall start to close or otherwise decrease around for example plant's roots placed therein (not shown).

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a variant with a plug 70 with an upper plug part 70a and a lower plug part 70b. A plant insertion recess 71 has been provided inside the upper plug part 70a. The lower plug part 70b has been given a cylindrical shape. The upper plug part 70a has been given a upwards outwardly tapering frusto-conical shape. Thus the entire upper plug part 70a forms a press section according to the inventive thought. When the plug 70 gets pressed with a downwards directed force Fd into a cylindrical container 72 which is complementary to the lower plug part 70b, then resulting radially inwards directed compressing forces Fc between the upper plug part 70a and corresponding upper parts of the container 72 shall occur, which shall force the recess 71 to close or otherwise decrease.

[0065] FIG. 8 shows a variant with a plug 80 with an upper plug part 80a and a lower plug part 80b. A plant insertion recess 81 has been provided inside the upper plug part 80a. The entire plug 80 has been given a frusto-conical shape. This time a container 82 is used which comprises an upper cylindrical section 82a and a lower frusto-conical section 82b. The lower frusto-conical container section 82b is complementary to a corresponding lower section of the plug 80. The upper plug part 80a here forms the press section. When the plug 80 gets pressed with a downwards directed force Fd into the container 82, then again resulting radially inwards directed compressing forces Fc between the upper plug part 80a and the corresponding upper section 82a of the container 82 shall occur, which shall force the recess 81 to close or otherwise decrease.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows a variant in which a container 90 comprises a different dimensioned first and second set of vertically extending grooves 91a and 91b. The first set of grooves 91a has larger outer dimensions d1 than the outer dimensions d2 of the second set of grooves 91b.

[0067] FIG. 9a shows a first method step in which a plug 92 is moulded or otherwise pre-shaped inside this container 90. The plug 92 then gets to comprise a complementary different dimensioned first and second set of vertically extending ribs 93a and 93b of which the first set of ribs 93a has larger outer dimensions than the second set of ribs 93b. During or after the moulding the plug 92 is provided with a plant insertion recess 94, which here is formed as a cylindrical hole.

[0068] FIG. 9b shows a second method step in which the thus pre-shaped plug 92 is lifted out of the container 90. This position of the plug 92 is referred to as its first rotational position.

[0069] FIG. 9c shows a third method step in which the lifted plug 92 is rotated around its central axis such that the first set of larger dimensioned ribs 93a gets positioned above the second set of smaller dimensioned grooves 91b. This position of the plug 92 is referred to as its second rotational position. The first set of larger dimensioned ribs 93a then is able to form the press sections according to the invention which only are able to fit into the second set of smaller dimensioned grooves 91b when they are forced to compress sideways inwardly during a pressing of the plug 92 into the container 90.

[0070] FIG. 9d shows a fourth method step in which the plug 92 has been pressed with a downwards directed force Fd into the container 90. This results in radially inwards directed compressing forces Fc between the ribs 93a of the plug 92 and the grooves 91b of the container 90. This shall force the recess 94 to reduce its diameter. At the same time, in this aimed insertion position, the second set of smaller dimensioned ribs 93b have no problem to move into the first set of larger dimensioned grooves 91a.

[0071] With this variant it is possible to manufacture and use the plugs for planting out in one and the same container. It also may help to prevent pre-shaped plugs from getting damaged during transport towards a planting location.

[0072] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the option to equip the plug of FIG. 1 with a plurality of three U-shaped metal wire reinforcement elements 100. The elements 100 comprise pairs of upwardly projecting opposite legs 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c, which lie diametrically opposed of each other on opposing sides of the plant insertion recess 3. Each pair of upwardly projecting opposite legs 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c is connected to each other by means of a lying connection part 100a, 100b and 100c. As can be seen each of the three reinforcement elements 100a, 100b, 100c is positioned such that it comes to lie with its legs 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c against a corresponding one of the diametrically opposed sets of the press sections 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0073] The plurality of reinforcement elements 100 together may form a sort of open barred basket which lies against the outer sides of the plug 1. This can be achieved by connecting the distinctive elements 100 with each other for example at centres of their connection parts 100a, 100b and 100c.

[0074] The elements 100 may get slightly clamped around the plug 1 such that they get to lie partly embedded therein and/or get adhered thereto so that they are able to form an effective interconnected unit with the plug's substrate material. The elements 100 advantageously reinforce the plug 1 such that no large parts of substrate material may easily break off during handling and processing, like for example the upper plug sections which together delimit the recess 3.

[0075] In the position as shown entirely on the left side of FIG. 11, wherein the plug 1 hangs with its oversized press sections 5 above the container 9, the plug 1 does not have its press sections 5 compressed sideways inwardly yet. Likewise the reinforcement elements 100 are still in their first so-called open position. In this first position each leg 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c encloses an angle 1 with its connection part 100a, 100b and 100c. In this first position the upper free ends of the legs 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c lie at a distance w1 of each other.

[0076] When subsequently the plug 1 gets pressed into the container 9, then the position as shown on the right side of the middle in FIG. 11 is obtained, wherein the plug 1 has gotten its oversized press sections 5 compressed diametrically inwardly in order to fit inside the container 9. Likewise the reinforcement elements 100 have been pushed diamterically inwardly towards their second so-called closed position. In this second position each leg 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c encloses an angle 2 with its connection part 100a, 100b and 100c, which angle 2<1. In this second position the upper free ends of the legs 100a-100a, 100b-100b and 100c-100c have come to lie at a distance w2 of each other, which distance w2<w1.

[0077] The reinforcement elements 100 are made out of such metal wire that they are plastically deformable. This causes them to get plastically deformed when forced to move into the container 9 together with the rest of the plug 1. This has the advantage that if the plug 1 after some time gets removed from the container 9 again, that the reinforcement elements 100 then help to keep the press sections 5 in their compressed state, which causes the plant insertion recess 3 to keep on clamping the plant 8 therein.

[0078] In FIG. 12 a first variant of the reinforcement element 100 is shown. This time the element 100 is V-shaped, which has the advantage that the lower ends of the legs form a sharp pointed hinge. Furthermore it can be seen in FIG. 12 that this time the element 100 has been fully circumvented by substrate material of the plug 50. Finally it is noticed that the legs of the element 100 extend over the entire height of the plug 50, including the height of the recess 51 therein.

[0079] In FIG. 13 a second variant of the reinforcement element 100 is shown. This time the element 100 is U-shaped, which has the advantage that each entire upwardly projecting leg of the element 100 can lie embedded inside substrate material of its corresponding plug part. Here also the legs of the element 100 extend over the entire height of the plug 60, including the height of the recess 61 therein, which also extends over the entire height of the plug 60. This has the advantage that the element 100 connects the two plug parts with each other.

[0080] In FIG. 14 a third variant of the reinforcement element 100 is shown. This time the element 100 is U-shaped and merely has its legs extend along an upper part of the height of the plug 70, which upper part includes the entire height of the recess 71 therein.

[0081] In FIG. 15 a fourth variant of the reinforcement element 100 is shown. This time the element 100 is V-shaped, in which the legs are connected to each other by means of a hinge. This hinge may be equipped with some kind of locking mechanism, like a ratchet, which only allows the legs to rotate towards each other and not away from each other again.

[0082] In FIG. 16a-c a sub-assembly is shown of a plant 160 that is growing inside a cylindrical auxiliary plug organ 161. This sub-assembly is destined to be placed in a plant insertion recess 162 that is provided in a pre-shaped substrate plug 163. The plug 163 comprises press sections 164 of which outer wall dimensions, in the situation as shown in FIG. 16a-b, are larger than inner wall dimensions of corresponding parts of a container that is not shown here. The recess 162 here comprises a frusto-conical central hole section 162a and two vertically extending groove sections 162b. The central hole section 162a is dimensioned such that the plug organ 161 can be freely placed therein, as is shown in FIG. 16b. Then as a final step, as is shown in FIG. 16c, the plug 163 gets pressed into a container that is dimensioned such that the press sections 164 need to be forced to fit into corresponding parts of the container while compressing radially inwardly and decreasing the recess 162 to narrowly fit around the sub-assembly of the plant 160 and auxiliary plug organ 161.

[0083] In FIG. 17 a variant of a pre-shaped plug 170 is shown that is equipped with two interspaced parallel plant insertion recesses 171. This makes it possible to place two plants 172 with their lower parts inside the respective recesses 171. this can be done at a same time or one after the other. Subsequently the plug 170 can get pressed into a container (not shown here) that is dimensioned such that press sections 173 of the plug 170 need to be forced to fit into corresponding parts of the container while compressing radially inwardly and decreasing both recesses 171 at a same time such that they get to retain the plants 172.

[0084] In FIG. 18 a variant of a pre-shaped plug 180 is shown that is equipped with a plant insertion recess 181 between oversized/overdimensioned press sections 182 of the plug. Inside the recess 181 a temporary blocking organ 184 is provided. The temporary blocking organ 184 here is formed by a bridging element or cross wall that extends inside the recess 181 in between the opposing plug recess walls that delimit the recess 181. The blocking organ 184 keeps the recess 181 open until it is forced to break. The blocking organ 184 is made out of the same and integral with the plug material. This destruction of the blocking organ 184 preferably is done simultaneously with a placing of plant material inside the recess and/or simultaneously with the plug getting forced to fit with its press sections 182 inside a container (not shown here).

[0085] Besides the embodiments shown, numerous variants are possible. For example the shapes and dimensions of the various parts, segments and sections of the container and/or plug can be further changed. The plug material can be very diverse and for example comprise coconut fibres, peat, bark, mineral/rock wool, soil, polyphenol foam, or mixtures thereof. This material can for example be pre-shaped or moulded while being glued together by means of a suitable adhesive. The plug can be made symmetrical or asymmetrical. Instead of the container and/or the plug being made out of one integral part it is also possible to use multi-part plugs and/or containers. For example some kind filling organ(s) like a ring can be placed inside an upper part of the container and/or around an upper part of the plug at the location of the press sections. This filling organ together with the press sections of the plug and the corresponding parts of the container, then also can be made such that an automatic decreasing of the recess is able to take place during pressing of the plug into the container. The plug can also be made out of two or more distinctive segments of which at least some are provided with the press sections and which together can be pressed into a container in such a way that a recess which is delimited by those plurality of segments automatically decreases. Also it is possible to use some kind of intermediate basket inside which the plug or plug segments can get placed before getting pressed together into the container. The container can have substantially closed side and/or bottom walls. It is also possible to use a basket as container of which the walls are provided with a plurality of openings. It is noted that aspects of the above variants of the reinforcement element(s) can also be combined with each other. For example hinges can also be used for the U-shaped variants. Further it is noted that the reinforcement element(s) may also be equipped with suitable profiles and/or cross or transverse pieces or the like such that they can get more grip onto the plug's substrate material and vice versa. Also it is noted that the other embodiments can also be provided with one or more reinforcement elements.

[0086] Thus the invention provides an easy to manufacture assembly of container and plug with relative large dimensioned press section(s) sideways of a plant insertion recess, which assembly makes it possible to truly speed up, improve and possibly fully automate a planting out process.