초록 ▼

The invention includes an improved container and method for growing a plant to be subsequently transplanted. In one embodiment, an upwardly extending container wall is adapted for retaining soil. A plurality gutters are disposed on an interior portion of the container wall. The gutters extend along

The invention includes an improved container and method for growing a plant to be subsequently transplanted. In one embodiment, an upwardly extending container wall is adapted for retaining soil. A plurality gutters are disposed on an interior portion of the container wall. The gutters extend along the container wall to one or more openings, thereby guiding roots to the openings for air pruning the roots. A root guiding surface of the gutter may extend downwardly and outwardly to the container wall, to form a substantially v-shaped gutter. Alternatively, an upwardly extending lip may be disposed on an inner portion of the root guiding surface, forming a substantially u-shaped gutter between the lip, ledge, and the interior portion of the container wall. The gutters may also slope downward in a direction along the container wall to better accommodate the geotropic nature of plant roots. An upwardly extending finger may also be disposed on the container wall above each gutter, to guide roots to the nearest opening.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An air root pruning container for growing a plant, comprising: an upwardly extending container side wall connected to a bottom wall, wherein the side wall comprises first and second upwardly facing internal ledges following undulating paths along the interior of the con

The invention claimed is: 1. An air root pruning container for growing a plant, comprising: an upwardly extending container side wall connected to a bottom wall, wherein the side wall comprises first and second upwardly facing internal ledges following undulating paths along the interior of the container side wall, a plurality of internal ribs spaced-apart along the container side wall extending upwardly from the first and second ledges and a plurality of openings through the container side wall in communication with low points in the undulating paths of the first and second ledges, wherein the second ledge is adjacent and above the first ledge, and wherein the upwardly extending ribs of the first ledge extend upwardly to an elevation that is higher than the low points of the second ledge. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of upwardly extending, internal ribs extend upwardly from the first and second ledges at high points in the undulating path of the first and second ledges. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein each ledge slopes continuously downwardly away from each of the ribs until coming into communication with at least one of the plurality of openings. 4. The container of claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending internal ribs have two legs forming an angled peak therebetween. 5. The container of claim 4, wherein the legs of the upwardly extending ribs have a longitudinal slope from 1.5 to 15 degrees off vertical. 6. The container of claim 5, wherein each ledge has a longitudinal slope from 20 to 60 degrees off horizontal. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the legs of the upwardly extending ribs form an acute angle therebetween. 8. The container of claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending ribs extend substantially vertically. 9. The container of claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending ribs extend vertically. 10. The container of claim 1, wherein the side wall has comers and the plurality of openings are positioned at the corners. 11. The container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of upwardly extending internal ribs comprise at least one upwardly extending rib between each corner. 12. The container of claim 10, wherein the container is rectangular. 13. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is nestedly stackable. 14. The container of claim 1, characterized in that the first and second ledges deter roots from extending down the container side wall and the upwardly extending ribs deter roots from circling around the container side wall. 15. The container of claim 1, characterized in that there is no horizontal cross-section of the container side wall that does not intersect a ledge or rib. 16. The container of claim 1, wherein the container wall has corners, the one or more openings are disposed at the corners, and the first and second upwardly facing internal ledges slope downwardly toward the corners. 17. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second ledges slope downwardly in a transverse direction toward an upper adjacent portion of the container side wall. 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the first and second ledges slope downwardly in the transverse direction at an angle of between about 20 to 60 degrees with respect to horizontal. 19. The container of claim 17, wherein the first and second ledges slope downwardly in the transverse direction at an angle of between about 35 to 45 degrees with respect to horizontal. 20. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second ledges comprise an upwardly extending lip forming a gutter. 21. The container of claim 20, wherein the lip is tapered along the length of the first and second ledges. 22. The container of claim 20, wherein the getter has a width of at least about 3/16″. 23. The container of claim 20, wherein the gutter has a depth of between about 1/16″to 3/16″. 24. The container of claim 20, wherein the gutter has one of a substantially U-shaped cross section and a substantially V-shaped cross section. 25. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall has one or more roof-like peaks to deflect a taproot into a bottom wall opening. 26. The container of claim 25, further comprising: a plurality of ribs extending upwardly along the container side wall from the bottom wall to an elevation higher than the low point of an adjacent ledge. 27. A container flat for growing plants, comprising: a plurality of joined containers, each container being made in accordance with claim 1. 28. An air root pruning container for growing a plant, comprising: an upwardly extending container side wall connected to a bottom wall, wherein the side wall comprises a first upwardly facing internal ledge and a second upwardly facing internal ledge that is adjacent and above the first ledge, the first and second internal ledges following an undulating path along the interior of the container side wall, a plurality of internal ribs spaced-apart along the container side wall extending upwardly from high points in the undulating path of the first and second ledges, and a plurality of openings through the container side wall in communication with low points in the undulating path of the first and second ledges, wherein the upwardly extending ribs of the first ledge extend upwardly to an elevation that is higher than the low points of the second ledge. 29. The container of claim 28, wherein the first and second lodges slope continuously downwardly away from each of the ribs until coming into communication with one of the plurality of openings. 30. The container of claim 28, wherein the upwardly extending internal ribs have two legs forming an angled peak therebetween. 31. The container of claim 28, characterized in that there is substantially no horizontal cross-section of the container side wall that does not intersect a ledge or rib. 32. The container of claim 28, wherein the side wall has corners and the plurality of openings are positioned at the corners. 33. The container of claim 28, wherein the first and second ledges comprises an upwardly extending lip forming a gutter. 34. The container of claim 28, wherein the bottom wall has one or more roof-like peaks to deflect a taproot into a bottom wall opening. 35. The container of claim 34, further comprising: a plurality of ribs extending upwardly along the container side wall from the bottom wall to an elevation higher than the low point of an adjacent lodge.