Method of growing a crop and harvesting device for use in the method

Method of growing a fruit-bearing crop comprising the steps of:

• growing a seedling in a first growing substrate plug/pellet,
• placing the substrate plug/pellet in a holder member, the holder member comprising a tubular body and a flange extending transversely to the tubular body, the body having a bottom with a root opening,
• placing a number of holder members, each carrying a crop, in a growth tray, the growth tray having a bottom and upstanding sidewalls, defining an irrigation space that is adapted for receiving water and nutrients, and a top surface spaced from the bottom, with openings for receiving a holder member, the flange being supported on near the top surface, a bottom of the holder members being in fluid communication with the irrigation space,
• placing growth trays in a conditioned growth chamber and exposing the plants to artificial light and arranging the growth trays along a number of parallel rows extending in a length direction Lg of the growth chamber,
• after a predetermined period of time, removing of the growth trays to a harvesting area, by contacting the trays with transport members and moving the trays by the transport members along their respective rows to a side conveyor extending in a width direction Wg of the growth chamber,
• the crop having, at a moment of moving to the harvesting area, a height that is no larger than 1 m, the crop being transported with the growth trays to the harvesting area in an upright position.