Method and planting bed for production of a plant in a container

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and raised bed for producing plant material in a container in the bed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 10 / 642,389, filed Aug. 15, 2003, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 403,806, filed Aug. 15, 2002, which are relied on and incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] Current nursery container production practices of ornamental plant material present considerable expenses for labor, construction, and water management. For example, it is general practice to water container plant material ranging in sizes from 1 gallon to 5 gallon under overhead irrigation to create a rain-like effect. However, overhead watering practice is being challenged due to environmental issues of water management for container nurseries along with increasing water shortage issues. [0003] Under current overhead watering practices (Best Management Practices: Guide for Producing Container-Grown Plants (1997—Southern Nurserymen's Association)), irrigating 1...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective method for producing container plants. It involves modifying the growing methods used for fruits and vegetables by using a raised bed technique with plastic covering. The covering can be made of woven weed mat or standard plastic. The raised bed can be used for several years and the soil can be stabilized with fertilizers and pesticides. The method also includes the use of drip irrigation to control temperatures and maintain moisture in the soil. By using this method, the need for traditional soil fumigation can be eliminated. The invention also reduces the labor and waste costs associated with traditional container nurseries by using a socket hold in the raised bed. Overall, the invention provides a more efficient and cost-effective way to produce container plants."

Problems solved by technology

Current nursery container production practices of ornamental plant material present considerable expenses for labor, construction, and water management.

However, overhead watering practice is being challenged due to environmental issues of water management for container nurseries along with increasing water shortage issues.

Irrigation run-off from using overhead watering thus creates a need to implement costly water management practices.

While new management practices in growing 1 to 5 gallon container plant material are being implemented, there has been limited advances in reducing run-off, water usage, labor cost, environmental concerns and construction costs.

Over the years, growers found themselves having to replace the plastic due to solar breakdown, tearing and certain weed penetration through the plastic.

Other growing practices incorporate growing potted plants on gravel beds, but these practices are very costly.

In addition, gravel beds used in sandy regions do not control weeds in growing areas due to rapid leaching of pre and post herbicides.

Current growing practices thus are highly limited by the extensive amounts of construction cost needed to excavate the growing areas to contain run-off of irrigation and storm water.

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