GB2201074A - Plant supports - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for a plant growing from within a container comprises an elongate member having an upper upright portion 2 adapted in use to provide support for the plant, the elongate member being bent at 3-5 to form a lower portion adapted to pass, in use, from over the container and around the container and to connect to a basal portion 7, 8 underlying the container whereby to provide a firm support base under the structure. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Plant Supports This inventions relates to plant supports for plants growing in bags of the kind known as "growbags" or in pots.

It has become common practice to grow various plants, such as tomatoes, in an appropriate nutrientcontaining compost disposed within a cushioned-shaped bag of plastics material having appropriate openings on the upper surface for the plant to grow through.

Such bags are generally known as "grow-bagst. They are convenient in that they provide a most suitable and well chosen environment for the plant or plants being grown. They, however, do suffer from a serious disadvantage when considering means for supporting the plants being grown such as the stems of tomatoes, for example. Thus, when the bags are disposed within a greenhouse or adjacent a suitable fixed structure, it is sometimes possible to arrange for support for the stems of the tomato from the walls of the greenhouse or from other suitable projections from the adjacent structure. However, frequently, for example, if it is desired to grow the tomatoes away from such possible supports, it is necessary to try to provide supporting stakes of some kind for the plants.Although this can be done by means of stakes whose lower end is located within the grow-bag, it is invariably found that the growing medium therein does not provide the required support for the takes which can tend to be pushed right through the base of the grow-bag in the attempt to get firm support, thereby upsetting the drainage thereof. Such stakes additionally risk serious damage to the plant roots.

Similarly with plants growing in pots, where support is required, it is common to provide a support stake within the pot itself. Such a stake again involves risk of damage to the roots of the plant, and again, because of the nature of the growing medium within the pot, often does not find sufficient firm support for itself let alone the plant to which it is attached.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially reduce the abovementioned disadvantages.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a plant growing within a container comprising an upper elongate upright portion adapted in use to lie closely adjacent the plant within the container and act as the support thereof, a lower portion angled or bent so that in use it extends from over the container, and down the outside of the container towards the base thereof; and a basal portion adapted in use to underlie the container and extending in at least two directions in a generally horizontal plane so as to provide, with the container dispose thereon, a firm base for the support resisting movement in any direction.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a plant growing within a container comprising an elongate member having an upper upright portion adapted in use to provide support for the plant, the elongate member being bent to form a lower portion adapted to pass, in use, from over the container and around the container and to connect to a basal portion underlying the container and extending such as to provide at least three ground contact areas in non rectilinear relative disposition, whereby to provide a firm support base fixed under the container.

The elongate member may be bent in a generally "C" or partial "C" configuration to form the lower portion and, in some embodiments, part of the basal portion.

By means of the invention the upright support portion may extend upwardly from closely adjacent the stem or stems of the plant within the container at the position where it or they leave the growing medium thereofor at a predetermined height thereabove. The support may then be bent from that location into its lower portion extending around the container to the base. The base may comprise quite simply portions extending in directions transverse to each other in a generally horizontal plane or may, for example, comprise a plate-like member, or even a dish or trough adapted to receive a watering medium for the container and the plant growing therein. Again, the plate, dish or-trough may be arranged to lie on the ground or may be separated therefrom by means of legs, for example, arranged to make at least three-point supporting contact with the ground.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant support comprising an elongate member having an upper portion adapted to support the plant, and a lower end basal portion bent in a single plane in a general "C" shape from the upper portions such that the lower-most part of the "C" extends at right angles to the direction of the upper portion; the free end of the said lower-most part being bent outwardly of said single plane so that the free end provides, with the lower-most part of the "C", a base from which the support may stand upright.

The support may be formed of a wire or strip of steel, for example, and may be coated for weather protection by galvanising coating or painting, for example.

The invention includes within its scope a container in association with a support of the kind herein defined.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood one embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of one form of plant support in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an underplan view of the support of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of the support of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the plant support 1 comprises a member formed of galvanised mild steel wire having a diameter of the order of 8mm. The support is shown in Figure 1 in its upright position when it has overall height of approximately-500mm, the top 400mm comprising the actual supporting portion 2 for the plant, such as a tomato growing within a grow-bag.

Below the plant support portion it is to be noted that the wire is bent, in a generally C shaped configuration through a succession of three right angles 3, 4, 5 so as to provide a lower portion and part of a basal portion which, lying within a vertical plane, enable a grow-bag to be fitted within the space formed between an upper horizontal length 6 of the wire and a lower-most horizontal length 7 of the wire, with the plant support portion 2 then being disposed closely adjacent the location of the stem of the plant within the grow-bag. A final lower length 8 of the wire is bent at an acute angle 9-to the length 7 of the wire in a horizontal plane so that lengths 7 and 8 provide a firm base for the support. This length 8 will also underlie the grow-bag when disposed in place below the support portion 2, which is then held firmly by the weight of the grow-bag against tilting or any other movement in any direction whilst firmly supporting the plant gowing within the grow-bag.

By means of the invention as illustrated we have provided a most simple, effective and inexpensive method of supporting, without any possible damaged to the roots, plants growing within a grow-bag type of container.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A support for a plant growing from within a container comprising an elongate member having an upper upright portion adapted so that in use it provides support for the plant, the elongate member being bent to form a lower portion-adapted so as to pass, in use, from over the container and around the container to connect to a basal portion adapted so as to underly the container in use and extending such as to provide at least three ground contact areas thereof in non-rectilinear relative disposition, whereby to provide in use a firm support base under the container.

2. A support for a plant growing from within a container comprising an upper elongate upright portion adapted so that in use it lies closely adjacent the plant growing from the container and acts as the support thereof, a lower portion angled or curved so that in use it extends from over the container, and down the outside of the container towards the base thereof; and a basal portion adapted in use to undelie the container and extending in at least two directions in a generally horizontal plane so as to provide, with the container disposed thereon, a firm base for the support resisting movement in any direction.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 or 2 formed of a wire or strip of steel.

4. A support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support is provided with a weather protective coating.

5. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lower portion and part of the basal portion is angled or curved to a 'C' like configuration in one plane, a further part of the basal portion being bent or curved outwardly from said one plane to provide a firm base for the support.

6. A plant support substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A plant support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in association with a plant growing container. sB