Method and apparatus for growing plants along an undulating path

摘要

Plants are grown in a growing machine (10) by advancing a plurality of plant cradles (14) on an endless conveyor along a growing path (P), at least a portion of the path being an undulating path having alternating upward and downward portions and a return portion for looping back to the undulating portion. Using a pair of parallel endless conveyors (12, 12), the cradles are removably supported between the conveyors. The cradles are supplied with growth-sustaining liquid and growth-promoting light. The cradles are advanced along the path until the one or more plants have reached a target growth after which they can be harvested or transferred to one or more subsequent machines until mature for harvest. As the cradles move upwards they are tilted to be higher at one end than the other and as they move downwards they are tilted in the opposite angle so that the nutrient in the cradle washes through the roots of the plants.