Transplanting device and transplanting method

A transplanting method that separates, from a seedling bed that is partitioned by slits and configured by a plurality of seedling bed pieces each of which includes a seedling, at least one of the seedling bed pieces along the slits and transplants the separated seedling bed piece to a site of transplant, wherein the transplanting method comprises:

• holding the seedling bed piece;
• hampering movement of an adjacent seedling bed piece adjacent to the held seedling bed piece through engagement with the adjacent seedling bed piece from a side that is different from a first side, on which a stalk of the seedling grows;
• separating the held seedling bed piece from the seedling bed;
• and
• transplanting the separated seedling bed piece to the site of transplant.

A transplanting device that separates, from a seedling bed that is partitioned by slits and configured by a plurality of seedling bed pieces each of which includes a seedling, at least one of the seedling bed pieces along the slits and transplants the separated seedling bed piece to a site of transplant, the transplanting device comprising:

• a separating mechanism, which has a holding member capable of holding the seedling bed piece and is capable of separating the seedling bed piece from the seedling bed by moving the holding member and the seedling bed relative to each other with the holding member holding the seedling bed piece;
• and
• a transplanting mechanism capable of transplanting the seedling bed piece that has been separated by the separating mechanism to the site of transplant,
• wherein the separating mechanism includes a movement hampering member capable of hampering movement of an adjacent seedling bed piece adjacent to the seedling bed piece held by the holding member by moving toward the adjacent seedling bed piece from a side that is different from a first side on which a stalk of the seedling grows and becoming engaged with an outer surface of the adjacent seedling bed piece at a position between the stalk of the seedling and the slit.