Apparatus for transplant propagation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION EMBODIMENTS A central feature of this invention can be seen by considering the various embodiments shown in FIG.
3, 4 and 14, FIGS.
11-13, FIG.
15, and FIGS.
16 and 17.
That feature is that a transplant propagation tray apparatus in accordance with this invention comprises the combination of an upper tray-forming member and a lower tray forming member, each having rows of partial cell-forming wall structures, which mate together to form an array of completed cells for holding transplant propagation plugs.
After the transplant plugs have been formed and the seedling grown therein, in each embodiment, the upper tray-forming member is separated from the lower tray-forming member.
Then, depending on the particular embodiment, either the upper tray-forming member (e.
g.
the embodiment of FIGS.
3, 4 and 14) or the lower tray forming member (e.
g.
the embodiment of FIGS.
16 and 17) becomes the sole support for carrying the array of transplant plugs for transplanting.
Thus the plugs are easily removed from the member carrying them and a variety of manual or automated plug removing apparatus and methods may be employed.
Referring now to FIGS.
3 and 4, it will be seen that transplant propagation apparatus 15 comprises a lower tray member 20 and an upper tray member 21 which, when assembled together, cooperatively form a rectangular array of transplant plug cells as shown in FIG.
4.
The four by four array shown in these figures is used for purposes of example only, and it will be appreciated that the tray members 20 and 21 can be formed to provide as large or small an array of cells as desired.
The size and shape of individual cells can be varied as well so that the invention is readily adapted to use for propagating small seedlings for flowers or fruits and vegetables or larger seedlings for trees to be used in reforestation projects.
Various manufacturing methods and materials are discussed below.
FIGS.
3-7 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in the form of an array of rectangular (special case being square) cells with sloping vertical side walls