Hydroponic cultivation pack

Abstract

Provide a hydroponics pack that allows even beginners in hydroponics to enjoy growing and harvesting leafy vegetables such as baby leaf at low cost with a little effort in a short period of time. 【Solution】The hydroponics pack includes a medium sheet for growing plants, a growing container that supports the medium sheet, and a plant cover that is removably attached to the growing container. Leafy vegetables such as baby leaf are planted on the medium sheet in a small-scale farm equipped only with an LED lighting device, and grown until they reach about 50 - 80% growth in a simplified seedling-raising container, and then shipped and sold. Customers who purchase it can enjoy hydroponics while growing the remaining 20 - 50% at home using sunlight, etc. Even after the first harvest, the seedlings that have grown late can be harvested a few days later if grown as they are, and hydroponics and meals can be enjoyed over a long period, that is, the experience of self-producing and consuming pesticide-free vegetables can be enjoyed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] A hydroponic cultivation pack and a method for providing a pack of hydroponic plants, which grow baby leaf vegetables such as baby lettuce, baby arugula, and baby kale on a farm until they are in the middle of growth, and then can be eaten as fresh vegetables by the purchaser while growing them at home until harvest.

Background Art

[0002] The environment surrounding food, such as food crises, rising food prices, low domestic food self-sufficiency rates, and pesticide contamination, has become extremely severe, and each household is required to produce and consume its own food (grow and eat it by itself), such as vegetables. Among them, it is very meaningful to improve the technology of vegetable cultivation while experiencing growing nearby leaf vegetables by hydroponics by oneself.

[0003] There are devices for growing leaf vegetables such as baby leaf from seeds by hydroponics, but it takes more than 30 days from sowing to harvesting. It is good as a hobby for those who are engaged in gardening or home gardening, but it still does not have a wide spread as gardening for many people. Therefore, it would be very healthy if one could purchase baby leaf and the like that have been grown to a certain extent on a farm at a store, take them home, grow them using the sun or an electric stand in a few days, and harvest them, and always eat pesticide-free vegetables that are fresh and have no loss of nutritional value.

[0004] However, when selling seedlings such as baby leaf during cultivation together with containers, due to problems during transportation and the cost of containers, etc., a significant simplification and special ingenuity are required compared to ordinary hydroponic containers.

[0005] That is, since leaf vegetables such as baby leaf are grown on a farm until they are in the middle of growth, transported to a store, and placed on the store shelf, further growth is required thereafter. Therefore, a mechanism that allows a person who purchases it to grow it easily and enjoyably even without knowledge of hydroponics at home, and a structure that does not leak water when transporting from the farm to the store and then to the home are required.

[0006] Regarding this water leakage prevention, for example, like the invention described in Patent Document 1, there is a technique in which part or all of the cultivation tank container is made of a waterproof breathable film to reduce the leakage of hydroponic nutrient solution. However, plants are completely different from the present invention, such as growing from the stem part and coming out through the stem holes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] Since baby leaf and other grown vegetables are sold together with the growing container, it is necessary to simplify the container to reduce costs. Furthermore, baby leaf and the like produced in the container are different from ordinary vegetables, and a container with a structure that allows the roots of the vegetables to grow firmly is also required for long-term growth at the purchaser's place. It is also a problem that the vegetable pack grown up to the growing stage in the production farm has a suitable container structure for transporting to the storefront.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the hydroponic cultivation pack of the present invention is a hydroponic cultivation pack for hydroponically cultivating plants, and includes a culture medium sheet for growing plants, a growing container for supporting the culture medium sheet, and a plant cover that is removably attached to the growing container and covers the plants. And, under the culture medium sheet, a space for the roots extending from the plants is formed. When the plant cover is attached to the growing container, the entire plant on the culture medium sheet is covered with the plant cover, and leakage of water existing in the culture medium sheet and / or the growing container to the outside is prevented.

[0010] In addition, the method for providing a hydroponic cultivation plant pack of the present invention uses such a hydroponic cultivation pack, grows plants with a medium sheet to a state before the harvest time, protects the entire plant before the harvest time with a plant cover attached to a growing container, and provides a hydroponic cultivation pack that prevents water leakage from the medium sheet and / or the growing container to the outside. Then, room for further growth of the plant is left toward the harvest time after provision.

[0011] Specifically, it is assumed that baby leaf that has grown to about 50 to 80% at a production farm is transferred together with the container and sold at a store. During that time, water leakage is prevented and the plant is covered with a plant cover to keep the leaves clean and sealed. Preferably, a fertilizer container containing fertilizer for the purchaser to grow 20% to 50% until harvest at home is stored in the plant cover. After the purchaser's first harvest, several different species are put into the medium sheet at the time of production so that buds that have not yet grown will grow in a few days, and the height of the planted species is changed, etc., so that the purchaser can enjoy the harvest and meals for a long time and several times.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] Purchasers of baby leaf that has grown to 50 to 80% at a store can enjoy the pleasure of hydroponic cultivation of 20% to 50% at home with sunlight or an electric stand, and it is effective as food education while watching the growth with children. And with the first harvest, fresh and pesticide-free baby leaf, etc. are served in meals, and a few days after the harvest, fresh baby leaf, etc. grow again, can be harvested and eaten, and there is an effect that fresh baby leaf, etc. can be eaten constantly for nearly a month.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a culture medium sheet 1 for growing seeds such as baby leaf. A plurality of slits 2, 3, etc. are provided in the culture medium sheet 1 so that several types of seeds can be put into the slits 2, 3. Thus, slits 2, 3, etc. for putting vegetable seeds are provided in the culture medium sheet 1, but the slits 2, 3 are provided in a stepped manner so that the baby leaves do not interfere with each other when they grow. Further, the culture medium sheet 1 is preferably a foamed resin, which allows water to penetrate firmly and at the same time air (oxygen) to accumulate in the foamed space, so that the germination of the seeds proceeds smoothly and the growth of the roots also proceeds smoothly. Note that the culture medium sheet 1 is for growing plants, and the plants are not limited to leafy vegetables such as baby leaf. Also, it is not limited to the foamed resin, and it may be a material that does not allow water to penetrate even if there is water in the growing container.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a growing container 4 for holding the culture medium sheet 1 of FIG. 1, and a protrusion 5 integrally formed at the bottom thereof supports the culture medium sheet 1. In other words, in the growing container 4 for growing vegetables, a protrusion 5 is provided to create a space for the roots extending under the culture medium sheet 1 on which the seeds are planted so that the roots grow straight. Also, the structure (the number and arrangement of the protrusions 5) is such that the culture medium sheet 1 containing water does not droop even when placed on the plurality of protrusions 5. There is a space between the culture medium sheet 1 and the bottom of the growing container 4 and it is filled with water, and the roots grow from the seeds put into the slits 2, 3 of the culture medium sheet 1 and grow straight in the water. Note that if the culture medium sheet 1 is sufficiently watered, the protrusion 5 can be omitted. In this case, the lower surface of the culture medium sheet 1 contacts the bottom of the growing container 4, but it is sufficient to create a space for the roots extending horizontally.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, place the culture medium sheet 1 immersed in water in the seedling growing container 4. The slits 2, 3 of the culture medium sheet 1 are provided with a vertical shift so that when the seedlings grow, as much light as possible shines from the side. Note that a plurality of culture medium sheets 1 without slits 2, 3 may be arranged, and vegetable seeds may be put into the gaps between the arranged sheets.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 4, several types of seeds 7 such as baby leaf are placed at regular intervals in the slits of the culture medium sheet using tweezers or the like. The germination times of several types of seeds are different from each other, and as shown in Fig. 5 (longitudinal sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3) and Fig. 6 (cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 3), by changing the depth at which the seeds 7 are placed in the slits 2 of the culture medium sheet 1, the germination times and growth conditions are different, so the final harvest times are different. Therefore, growers who purchase the product grown on the culture medium sheet 1 until before the harvest time can enjoy the harvest several times starting from the first harvest.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 7, the seeds 7 planted in the slits of the culture medium sheet 1 start to take root and germinate after several days, but the rooting and germination times are different depending on the type of the seeds 7, and the times when the roots and buds come out of the culture medium sheet 1 are also different depending on the positions where the seeds 7 are placed. First, the roots 11 that have taken root from the seeds 7 grow from under the culture medium sheet 1 and reach the water 8 stored in the space created by the protrusions 5 provided in the cultivation container. Then, the germination of the seeds 7 begins, and buds emerge from the gaps in the culture medium sheet 1 and start to germinate, growing into buds (cotyledons) 9 and buds (true leaves) 10. Differences in germination and growth occur depending on the differences in the types of several kinds of seeds 7 placed in the slits and the heights at which the seeds 7 are placed.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 8, when the buds (cotyledons) 9 start to emerge from the slits of the culture medium sheet, light 12 such as LED is irradiated to promote photosynthesis of vegetables and the like.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 9, when the buds (cotyledons) 9 start to emerge from the slits of the culture medium sheet, the buds that germinate early grow into buds (true leaves) 10, but there are differences of several days depending on the type of the seeds and the planting positions of the seeds. When the buds (true leaves) 10 start to emerge, liquid fertilizer is applied from the liquid fertilizer container 13. However, if the liquid fertilizer is poured from above the culture medium sheet, it will lead to the occurrence of water blooms and the like, so the liquid fertilizer is poured from above the recesses 6 provided around the cultivation container while avoiding the culture medium sheet.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 10, irradiate the plants with light from an LED light source for several days from the first germination, supply water and fertilizer so that they do not run out, and grow the plants in the culture medium sheet to a state before the harvest time. Then, when the height of the seedlings 14 grows to 5 - 18 cm, or when the seedlings 14 grow to 50 - 80% of the harvest time, start shipping from the production farm.

[0022] At the time of shipping, prepare a plant cover 15 made of a transparent material so that the internal state as shown in Fig. 11 can be seen. This plant cover 15 is a plant cover that is removably attached to the cultivation container to cover the plants. It is shipped from the production farm, lined up in the store, and covered on the cultivation container to prevent water leakage and dirt on the leaves during the period from shipping to the purchaser's home, and to protect the entire plant before the harvest time. The plant cover 15 is provided with a recess 16 that can accommodate a liquid fertilizer container.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 12, place a liquid fertilizer container 13 containing the liquid fertilizer necessary for the purchaser to grow baby leaves etc. at home for several days in the recess provided in the plant cover 15. The combined plant cover 15 and cultivation container is called a growing food pack 17. Here, the plant cover 15 and the cultivation container are closely fitted or adhered to each other. When the plant cover 15 is attached to the cultivation container, the entire plant such as baby leaves on the culture medium sheet is covered by the plant cover 15, and leakage of water existing in the culture medium sheet and the cultivation container to the outside is prevented.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 13, the growing food pack 17 with the combined plant cover and cultivation container is wound with a strip 18 that serves as a detachment prevention material to prevent the accidental detachment of the plant cover and prevent the liquid fertilizer container stored in the plant cover from falling off, and has an explanatory text so that customers can understand how to grow the product when lined up in the store. The strip 18 also has a growing guide that the purchaser can read from the QR code 19 using a smartphone, enabling trouble - free growth and harvest of the first hydroponics at home. That is, the purchaser can grow and eat while growing, and a growing guide necessary for harvesting while growing properly is also attached.

[0025] In this way, the growing food pack 17 is designed to leave room for further growth of the plants towards the harvest time after it is provided. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the purchaser removes the plant cover of the growing food pack brought home and grows it under the light 20 of an electric stand such as an LED, or exposes it to the sunlight 21, grows the remaining 20 - 50% and harvests it after growing it into leaves.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 16, pick the large baby leaf blades 22 and use them for meals. After the first harvest, if the plant is irradiated with the light of an electric stand or sunlight thereafter, seedlings with a delayed germination or seedlings planted below the slit of the culture medium sheet with a delayed germination and growth will grow after a few days. In this way, harvesting can continue even more than ten days after the first harvest.

[0027] The germination and growth of this baby leaf etc. can be produced in an ordinary room as long as there is air - conditioning equipment and it is a place equipped with LED lighting etc. By growing 50 - 80% and selling the baby leaf pack at a nearby store, it is the ultimate local production for local consumption. Then the purchaser takes it home and grows and harvests the remaining 20 - 50% with sunlight or the light of an electric stand. In a family with children, growing it together with the children can also lead to food education where children who dislike vegetables can enjoy growing and eating them. Through this growth experience, the method of hydroponics can be learned as a home garden and utilized for preparations against food crises, etc. It is also a promising idea for near - future agriculture.

[0028] In the above - mentioned embodiment, the plant is grown to a state before the harvest time with a culture medium sheet to make a growing food pack. However, without growing the plant, it may be provided as a hydroponics pack by attaching seeds to the culture medium sheet, the growing container, and the plant cover.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 1 Culture medium sheet 2 Slit 3 Slit 4 Growing container 5 Protrusion 6 Depression of the growing container 7 Seed 8 Water 9 Bud (cotyledon) 10 Bud (true leaf) 11 Root 12 LED 13 Liquid fertilizer container 14 Seedling (50 - 80% grown) 15 Plant cover 16 Depression of plant cover 17 Rearing food pack 18 Band 19 QR code 20 Light of electric stand 21 Sunlight 22 Leaf (fully grown)

Claims

Claim 1 A hydroponic cultivation pack for hydroponically cultivating plants, comprising a culture medium sheet for growing plants, a growing container for supporting the culture medium sheet, and a plant cover removably attached to the growing container to cover the plants. Under the culture medium sheet, a space for the roots extending from the plants is formed. A hydroponic cultivation pack, wherein when the plant cover is attached to the growing container, the entire plant on the culture medium sheet is covered by the plant cover, and leakage of water existing in the culture medium sheet and / or the growing container to the outside is prevented. Claim 2 The hydroponic cultivation pack according to claim 1, wherein the culture medium sheet is provided with slits or gaps at different depths for planting plant seeds. Claim 3 A method for providing a pack of hydroponically cultivated plants using the hydroponic cultivation pack according to claim 1 or 2, comprising growing the plants with the culture medium sheet until a state before the harvest time, providing a hydroponic cultivation pack that protects the entire plant before the harvest time with a plant cover attached to the growing container and prevents water leakage from the culture medium sheet and / or the growing container to the outside, and leaving room for further growth of the hydroponically cultivated plants towards the harvest time after the provision. Claim 4 The method for providing a pack of hydroponically cultivated plants according to claim 3, wherein an anti-disengagement material for preventing accidental disengagement of the plant cover is provided between the growing container and the plant cover.

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