A method and apparatus for planting seeds

An apparatus for use in sowing seeds in a soil substrate, the seeds being carried by a seed tape;

• wherein the apparatus comprises a carriage provided with a seed tape feeder bearing the seed tape, and a rotating pressing disc mounted on the carriage;
• such that, in use:
• (i) the seed tape is fed in front of the pressing disc by the seed tape feeder and brought into contact with the pressing disc so that a peripheral pressing edge of the pressing disc is substantially centrally aligned between two edges of the seed tape;
• (iii) the pressing disc progressively creates a longitudinal fold in the seed tape and progressively presses the folded seed tape into the soil substrate as the carriage advances, such that after being pressed into the soil substrate, the longitudinal fold in the seed tape is downwardly oriented and the two edges of the seed tape are upwardly oriented, and there is a vertical gap between the two edges and a surface of the soil substrate;
• wherein the apparatus comprises a force adjustment mechanism for adjusting a pressing force exerted by the pressing disc against the soil substrate;
• wherein the seed tape comprises a polymer film layer having a plurality of seeds at least partially embedded therein, and a porous reinforcing layer bonded to the polymer film layer;
• and the seed tape feeder is arranged to deliver the seed tape such that, when the seed tape is folded, the porous reinforcing layer constitutes the inner surface of the folded seed tape so that the seed-containing polymer layer faces outwards.

A method for sowing seeds in a soil substrate, the seeds being carried by a seed tape;

• which method comprises
• (i) cutting a longitudinally extending substantially vertical slit along the soil substrate;
• (ii) feeding the seed tape in front of a pressing disc and bringing the seed tape into contact with the pressing disc so that a peripheral pressing edge of the pressing disc is substantially centrally aligned between two edges of the seed tape;
• (iii) advancing the pressing disc along a path aligned with the slit so that it progressively creates a longitudinal fold in the seed tape and progressively presses the folded seed tape into the slit, whereby, after being pressed into the slit, the longitudinal fold in the seed tape is downwardly oriented and the two edges of the seed tape are upwardly oriented, and there is a vertical gap between the two edges and an upper end of the slit;
• wherein the seed tape comprises a polymer film layer having a plurality of seeds at least partially embedded therein, and a porous reinforcing layer bonded to the polymer film layer, and wherein, when the seed tape is folded, the porous reinforcing layer constitutes the inner surface of the folded seed tape so that the seed-containing polymer layer faces outwards.