Growing System

Abstract

A growing system and/or plant support structure may include one or more feet supporting at least one or more uprights, on which a plurality of plants and/or grow boards for growing plants may be positioned. A nutrient delivery system may be positioned between opposing uprights to provide nutrient supply to a root zone of plants, which nutrient delivery system may be positioned adjacent each opposing upright in an interior chamber of the plant support structure. A light system may be positioned between two adjacent plant support structures such that it simultaneously provides light to the exterior surface of the two plant support structures. A collapsible light may be positioned adjacent plants and plant support structures for improved access to the plants or plant support structures while allowing variable and controllable light distribution beneficial to control of adjacent plants and plant structures.

1 . A plant support structure comprising:
 a. a foot providing a structural base for said first plant support structure;   b. a tray engaged with said foot, wherein said tray includes two side panes angled downward to a central trough;   c. a board frame engaged with said foot, wherein said board frame comprises a first upright extending from said foot and a second upright extending from said foot, wherein said first and second uprights form an acute angle with respect to one another;   d. a light support engaged with said board frame adjacent an upper end of said first upright and said second upright, wherein said light support comprises a first extension and a second extension extending upward from said board frame; and,   e. a light system engaged with said light support, wherein said light support is configured to support said light system and move said light system upward and downward with respect to said board frame.   
     
     
         2 . The plant support structure according to  claim 1  further comprising a second board frame adjacent said board frame and spaced laterally therefrom, wherein said light system is positioned between said board frame and said second board frame. 
     
     
         3 . The plant support structure according to  claim 2  wherein said board frame further comprises:
 a. a lower distal end and an upper distal end of said first upright, wherein said first upright is angled with respect to a vertical dimension; 
 b. a lower distal end and an upper distal end of said second upright, wherein said second upright is angled with respect to said vertical dimension, and wherein said upper distal end of said first upright and said upper distal end of said second upright are positioned adjacent one another; 
 c. a third upright having a lower distal end and an upper distal end, wherein said third upright is angled with respect to a vertical dimension, and wherein said third upright is separated from said first upright along said length of said tray; and, 
 d. a fourth upright having a lower distal end and an upper distal end, wherein said fourth upright is angled with respect to said vertical dimension, wherein said fourth upright is separated from said second upright along said length of said tray, and wherein said upper distal end of said third upright and said upper distal end of said fourth upright are positioned adjacent one another. 
 
     
     
         4 . The plant support structure according to  claim 3  wherein said light support further comprises:
 a. a first valley formed via cooperation between a lower end of said first extension and a lower end of said second extension; 
 b. a third extension extending upward from said upper distal end of said third upright; and, 
 c. a fourth extension extending upward from said upper distal end of said fourth upright, wherein a lower end of said first extension and a lower end of said second extension cooperate to form a second valley, wherein said second valley is spaced apart from said first valley along said length of said tray, and wherein said light system is further defined as being suspended from said first and third extensions. 
 
     
     
         5 . The plant support structure according to  claim 4  further comprising a fan positioned between said first extension and said second extension of said light support. 
     
     
         6 . The plant support structure according to  claim 5  further comprising an air conduit in fluid communication with said fan, wherein said air conduit extends from said fan along said length of said tray and is positioned between said third extension and said second extension of said light support. 
     
     
         7 . The plant support structure according to  claim 6  wherein said fan is further defined as configured to direct a flow of air into said conduit, and wherein said conduit is configured to direct a portion of said flow of air downward toward said first, said second, said third, and said fourth uprights. 
     
     
         8 . A board frame comprising:
 a. a first upright extending upward from an upright base, wherein said first upright is angled with respect to the vertical dimension;   b. a second upright extending upward from a second upright base, wherein said second upright is angled with respect to the vertical dimension, and wherein said second upright is spaced from said first upright;   c. an intermediate rail engaged with said first and said second uprights adjacent a top end of both said first and said second uprights, wherein said intermediate rail is formed with an upper lip and a lower lip extending outward at an angle from said first and second uprights; and, d. a second intermediate rail engaged with said first and second uprights adjacent a bottom end of both said first and second uprights, wherein said second intermediate rail is formed with an upper lip and a lower lip extending outward at an angle from said first and second uprights;   d. a light support comprising:
 i. a first extension extending upward from an upper distal end of said first upright; and, 
 ii. a second extension extending upward from an upper distal end of said second upright, wherein a lower end distal of said first extension and a lower distal end of said second extension cooperate to form a first valley. 
   
     
     
         9 . The board frame according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 a. a third upright extending upward from a third upright base, wherein said third upright is angled with respect to the vertical dimension, and wherein said third upright is positioned directly above said first upright; 
 b. a fourth upright extending upward from a fourth upright base, wherein said fourth upright is angled with respect to the vertical dimension, wherein said fourth upright is spaced from said third upright, and wherein said fourth upright is positioned directly above said second upright; 
 c. a third intermediate rail engaged with said third and said fourth uprights adjacent a top end of both said third and said fourth uprights, wherein said third intermediate rail is formed with an upper lip and a lower lip extending outward at an angle from said third and fourth uprights; and, 
 d. a fourth intermediate rail engaged with said third and fourth uprights adjacent a bottom end of both said third and fourth uprights, wherein said second intermediate rail is formed with an upper lip and a lower lip extending outward at an angle from said third and fourth uprights. 
 
     
     
         10 . The board frame according to  claim 9  wherein said light support further comprises:
 a. a third extension extending upward from said upper distal end of said third upright; and, 
 b. a fourth extension extending upward from said upper distal end of said fourth upright, wherein a lower end of said first extension and a lower end of said second extension cooperate to form a second valley, wherein said second valley is spaced apart from said first valley along said length of said tray, and wherein said light system is further defined as being suspended from said first and third extensions. 
 
     
     
         11 . The board frame according to  claim 10  further comprising a pan, wherein said pan is engaged with a lower lip of said fourth intermediate rail and a top lip of said intermediate rail. 
     
     
         12 . The plant support structure according to  claim 10  further comprising a fan positioned between said first extension and said second extension of said light support. 
     
     
         13 . The plant support structure according to  claim 12  further comprising an air conduit in fluid communication with said fan, wherein said air conduit extends from said fan along said length of said tray and is positioned between said third extension and said second extension of said light support. 
     
     
         14 . The plant support structure according to  claim 13  wherein said fan is further defined as configured to direct a flow of air into said conduit, and wherein said conduit is configured to direct a portion of said flow of air downward toward said first, said second, said third, and said fourth uprights. 
     
     
         15 . A method of growing a plant, said method comprising:
 a. arranging a first plant support structure in a row, wherein said first plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length, and wherein said first plant support structure comprises:
 i. a foot providing a structural base for said first plant support structure; 
 ii. a tray engaged with said foot, wherein said tray includes two side panes angled downward to a central trough; 
 iii. a board frame engaged with said foot, wherein said board frame comprises a first upright extending from said foot and a second upright extending from said foot, wherein said first and second uprights form an acute angle with respect to one another; 
 iv. a light support engaged with said board frame adjacent an upper end of said first upright and said second upright, wherein said light support comprises a first extension and a second extension extending upward from said board frame; 
 v. a light system engaged with said light support, wherein said light support is configured to support said light system and move said light system upward and downward with respect to said board frame; 
   b. arranging a second plant support structure in a second row, wherein said second plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length equal to said height, said width, and said length of said first plant support structure, respectively, wherein said first plant support structure is laterally spaced from said second plant support structure so as to create an aisle between said first and second plant support structures, and wherein said light system is positioned in a portion of said aisle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of growing a plant according to  claim 15  wherein said light system is further defined as comprising at least one light source and an air conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of growing a plant according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of directing a volumetric flow of air to said first and said second plant support structures from said air conduit.