TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for growing seedlings on growth media such as coir pellets and mineral wool pellets.

BACKGROUND The discussion of any prior art documents, techniques, methods or apparatus is not to be taken to constitute any admission or evidence that such prior art forms, or ever formed, part of the common general knowledge.

In recent years there has been a trend for home owners and restauranteurs to meet a substantial proportion of their requirements for salad vegetables, e.g. edible leafy greens, by growing them on their premises. The vegetables may be grown in pots either indoors or outdoors. Alternatively, and for greater yield a dedicated cultivation apparatus may be used. For example, Figure 1 depicts a dedicated, prior art, grow unit 1 which is about the size of a domestic kitchen refrigerator. Grow unit 1 includes a number of trays 3 for supporting growth media which are sown with seeds that germinate into plants. Grow units are typically fitted with growth lights and a temperature control system to actively encourage growth of the plants. Some types of growth units include a water supply to ensure regular plant watering.

The growth media may be a potting mix soil or a loose coir material, either of which create a lot of mess, may retain too much water, fail to aerate the roots of the plants during growing and cannot be re-used thereby presenting a solid waste problem. Furthermore, seeding the growth media is problematic since the seeds are often very small. Consequently a higher level of horticultural skill may be required or spacing of the seeds may be uneven so that as the full size plants grow regions of crowding and sparseness appear. It would be advantageous if an improved method and apparatus were provided for seeding growth media which overcomes at least one of the above described problems of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method for seeding a piece of growth media comprising the steps of:

applying seeds and adhesive to the piece of growth media whereby the seeds are retained on the piece of growth media for germination therefrom.

The adhesive may be applied by spraying it onto the piece of growth media. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention the adhesive may be applied by dipping a surface of the piece of growth media into the adhesive or alternatively by brushing the adhesive onto the piece of growth media.

Preferably the piece of growth media comprises a coir pellet. However, other types of growth media may also be used. For example, and non-exhaustively, the piece of growth media could comprise a piece of mineral wool or a peat pellet.

In one embodiment of the invention the method comprises passing a plurality of the pieces of growth media under an adhesive applicator and thence under a seed applicator.

In another embodiment an applicator may be provided that dispenses a mixture of seeds and liquid adhesive.

The adhesive may comprise any one of a range of suitably non-plant toxic solutions. Other plant friendly adhesives based on proteins, natural rubber, starch, or cellulose may also be used. For example, the adhesive may comprise an organic adhesive starch solution such as a reserved carbohydrate most commonly encountered in plants such as potatoes, wheat, corn, rice and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the invention corn starch is used as the adhesive.

Other possible organic adhesives may include guar gum, agar agar, gum arabic, xanthan gum, psyllium, or any other polymeric binder that may be suitable for binding the seeds to the growth medium.

The method may include a laminating step to ensure seeds are sufficiently covered in adhesive to prevent contact with air.

The adhesive mixture should be water-soluble so that the seeds are able to be subsequently wetted by capillary action of the piece of growth media for germination and are not isolated from it by the adhesive. A germination accelerant or other suitable growth stimulant may be added to the adhesive mixture so that when wet the seed germination is promoted.

Preferably the seeds are totally embedded in the liquid adhesive in that they are covered by the adhesive, so that they are excluded from air and moisture to maintain their shelf life prior to use.

The method may include laminating the seeds with adhesive to ensure total embedding of the seeds therein. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a seed and growth media combination comprising:

a piece of growth media;

an adhesive bonded to the piece of growth media;

one or more seeds bonded to the adhesive for growing from the piece of growth media.

The piece of growth media may comprise a coir pellet though other pieces of growth media, such as a block of mineral wool or a peat pellet may also be used. The adhesive may comprise corn starch though other plant friendly adhesives may also be used.

A germination accelerant or other suitable growth stimulant may be added to the adhesive mixture so when wet the seed germination is promoted.

The seeds may be seeds for salad vegetables such as lettuce varieties though it is believed that almost all other types of plant seeds may be used. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a mixture comprising seeds disposed in a liquid adhesive solution. For example the seeds may comprise salad vegetable seeds mixed in a solution of corn starch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 depicts a prior art leafy greens grower apparatus.

Figure 2 is a view of a coir pellet in an initial stage of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view of the coir pellet bearing an adhesive in a further stage of the method.

Figure 4 shows seeds being dropped onto the adhesive in a further stage of the method.

Figure 5 depicts a seeded pellet produced by the method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a tray bearing a plurality of the seeded pellets. Figure 7 is a first arrangement for making the seeded pellets.

Figure 8 is a second arrangement for making the seeded pellets. Figure 9 depicts a laminating arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Methods according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 9.

Figure 2 illustrates a piece of growth media in the form of a coir pellet 5. Coir pellets are made of material from coconut husks and have been found to be highly suitable growth media for cultivating plants from seeds. The pellets are dry and compressed so that they present a stable surface.

As shown in Figure 3, a liquid, plant friendly (i.e. non-toxic) adhesive 7 is initially applied to the surface of the coir pellet 5. The adhesive 7 preferably comprises an organic adhesive starch solution such as a reserved carbohydrate most commonly encountered in plants such as potatoes, wheat, corn, rice and the like. In the presently discussed preferred embodiment the adhesive comprises corn starch. Other possible organic adhesives that are believed to be suitable include guar gum, agar agar, gum arabic, xanthan gum, psyllium, or any other polymeric binder that may be suitable for binding the seeds to the growth medium.

In the presently described preferred embodiment of the invention the adhesive 7 comprises corn starch which is dropped on to the coir pellet 5. However the adhesive can also comprise other non-toxic solutions. Furthermore, the adhesive 7 may be applied in any suitable manner including brushing, spraying or dipping. The adhesive mixture should be water-soluble so that the seeds are able to be subsequently wetted by the growth media capillary action for germination and not isolated from it by the adhesive.

A germination accelerant or other suitable growth stimulant may be added to the adhesive mixture so seed germination is promoted when the piece of growth media is wetted. Figure 3 shows seeds 9 being applied by dropping them onto the wet adhesive 7 to form a seeded pellet 1 1 as shown in Figure 5. The adhesive 7 is applied as a liquid so that it penetrates into the coir on application and makes a sturdy mechanical fastening to the pellet sufficient for the packing and planting of the pellets. Once the adhesive 7 has been allowed to set a plurality of the seeded pellets 1 1 can be shipped in boxes or other suitable packaging, for use. It will be realised that since the seeds 7 are adhered to the pellet 5 they remain firmly in place during handling and transportation. It is beneficial if care is taken to ensure that the seeds are totally embedded in the liquid adhesive so that they are excluded from air and moisture to thereby maintain shelf life of the product with viable seeds.

An end user may place a plurality of the seeded pellets 1 1 seed-side up into a plastic growing tray 3 as shown in Figure 6. The end user does not have to be concerned about the seeds falling off the coir or about having to seed the coir, since the coir is already fitted with the adhered seeds 9.

The tray 3 that is shown in Figure 6 is formed with pockets for each pellet 1 1 so that the pellets 1 1 , and thus the groups of seedlings which grow from seeds 9 are spaced apart. However, the pockets are inessential and the pellets 1 1 could be simply placed side by side in an open tray.

No particular care is required when watering the seeded pellets 1 1 . A preferred method for watering is to flood each pocket of the tray 3 with water to a little under the height of each pellet periodically. The pellets 1 1 soak the water up but they could also be watered from the top or the side by mist or droplets, if required, in order to encourage germination of the seeds 9 from the pieces of growth medium, e.g. pellets 5.

The adhesive 7 may be applied by spraying or dripping it onto the piece of growth media. For example, an arrangement is shown in Figure 7 in which a tray 1 3 of the pellets 5 is passed (in the direction indicated by arrow 14) beneath a liquid adhesive applicator 15 which dispenses a drop of adhesive 7 onto the topside of pellet 5. The pellet 5 with adhesive drop 7 then passes under a seed dispenser 17 which applies seeds 9 onto the adhesive 7 to thereby form seeded pellets 1 1 . A further arrangement is depicted in Figure 8 in which a dispenser 19 is loaded with a mixture 1 0 of seeds and liquid adhesive. Drops 17 of the mixture 10 of liquid adhesive 7 containing the seeds 9 are applied to the pellets 5 to thereby form seeded pellets 1 1 . As previously discussed, it is desirable that the seeds are embedded within the adhesive so that they are covered by the adhesive since doing so prolongs their storage life and provides a protective cover. If it is the case that the seeds are not embedded in the adhesive but instead have portions that stand proud of the adhesive then, as shown in Figure 9, a laminating step may be conducted. Figure 9 shows seeded pellets 1 1 a in which the adhesive initially applied according to either Figure 7 or Figure 8 has not covered the seeds 9. In order to fully cover the seeds the seeded pellets 1 1 a are put in a tray 3 which is passed, in the direction indicated by arrow 14, under adhesive applicator 15. The adhesive applicator 15 applies a drop of adhesive 7 which falls on the uncovered seeds and sets to form a laminate layer 6 that covers them to thereby produce laminated seeded pieces of growth media 1 1 b.

Other methods of applying the adhesive or the adhesive and seed mixture include dipping and brushing.

Preferably the piece of growth media 5 comprises a coir pellet. However, other types of growth media may also be used which have sufficient water absorbency and capillary action sufficient to germinate the seeds 9. For example the piece of growth media may comprise a block of mineral wool or a peat pellet.

The adhesive 7 may comprise any one of a range of suitably non-plant toxic solutions. As previously discussed, in the preferred embodiment of the invention that has been described adhesive 7 comprises liquid corn starch. Other plant friendly adhesives are also known however and have been mentioned. For example adhesives based on proteins, natural rubber, starch, or cellulose may also be used. The seeds 9 may be seeds for salad vegetables such as lettuce varieties though almost all other types of plant seeds may be used too.

As previously discussed, seeded pellets may be used by private home owners and restaurants. Furthermore they are also applicable to commercial growing and can be used both indoors and outdoors with or without a growing chamber. Indeed the seeded pellets may be used in almost any situation where plants are usually grown.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.