Plant protection system

Claim 1

The method of transplanting tender plant seedlings for subsequent growth in an open field subject to harsh seasonable environmental conditions wherein the field soil has been prepared to receive the seedlings comprising the steps of: spreading a mulch layer of sheet material over the growing area of the field soil in which the plants are to be grown while exposed to open field environmental conditions; forming a hole through said sheet material in said area and into the soil beneath said material at each of a plurality of spaced locations; introducing a seedling and generally tubular open ended plant protector through said sheet material and into the soil at each of said holes for the protector to surround the seedling root formation at each of said locations thereby causing the surrounding soil to intimately contact the seedling root formation; and leaving an upper portion of each protector extending a substantial distance above said sheet material to protectively encircle the tender stem portion and at least a major part of the foliage of the seedling therewithin, causing said sheet material to closely surround the periphery of each said protector at the surface perimeter of each hole thereby enhancing the moisture content of said growing area.

Claim 2

The method of transplanting tender plant seedlings for subsequent growth in an open field subject to harsh seasonable environmental conditions wherein the field soil has been prepared to receive the seedlings comprising the steps of: spreading a mulch layer of sheet material over the growing area of the field soil in which the plants are to be grown while exposed to open field environmental conditions; forming a hole through said sheet material in said area and into the soil beneath said material at each of a plurality of spaced locations; introducing a seedling and generally tubular open ended plant protector through said sheet material and into the soil at each of said holes for the protector to surround the seedling root formation at each of said locations thereby causing the surrounding soil to intimately contact the seedling root formation; and leaving an upper portion of each protector extending a substantial distance above said sheet material to protectively encircle the tender stem portion and at least a major part of the foliage of the seedling therewithin, causing said sheet material to closely surround the periphery of each said protector at the surface perimeter of each hole thereby enhancing the moisture content of said growing area.

Claim 5

The method as recited in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said protector has a downwardly tapering form where it encloses the seedling.

Claim 6

The method of transplanting tender plant seedlings for subsequent growth in an open field subject to harsh seasonal environmental conditions wherein the field soil has been prepared to receive the seedlings comprising the steps of: spreading a mulch layer of sheet material over the field soil growing area in which the plants are to be grown while exposed to open field environmental conditions; forming a hole through said sheet material in said area and into the soil beneath said material at each of a plurality of spaced locations; transplanting a seedling in each of said holes; inserting a generally tubular open ended plant protector through said sheet material and into the soil surrounding the seedling root formation at each of said locations thereby causing the surrounding soil to intimately contact the seedling root formation; and leaving an upper portion of each said protector extending a substantial distance above said material to protectively encircle the tender stem portion and at least a major part of the foilage of the seedling therewithin, causing said sheet material to closely surround the periphery of each said protector at the surface perimeter of each hole thereby enhancing the moisture content of said growing area.

Claim 7

The method of transplanting tender plant seedlings for subsequent growth in an open field subject to harsh seasonal environmental conditions wherein the field soil has been prepared to receive the seedlings comprising the steps of: spreading a mulch layer of sheet material over the field soil growing area in which the plants are to be grown while exposed to open field environmental conditions; forming a hole through said sheet material in said area and into the soil beneath said material at each of a plurality of spaced locations; transplanting a seedling in each of said holes; inserting a generally tubular open ended plant protector through said sheet material and into the soil surrounding the seedling root formation at each of said locations thereby causing the surrounding soil to intimately contact the seedling root formation; and leaving an upper portion of each said protector extending a substantial distance above said material to protectively encircle the tender stem portion and at least a major part of the foilage of the seedling therewithin, causing said sheet material to closely surround the periphery of each said protector at the surface perimeter of each hole thereby enhancing the moisture content of said growing area.

Claim 9

The method as recited in either of claims 5 or 6 wherein said sheet material is provided by an impervious plastic sheet.

Claim 10

The method as recited in either of claims 5 or 6 wherein said protector has a downwardly tapering form where it encloses the seedling.

Claim 11

The method as recited in either of claims 5 or 6 wherein the soil to receive the seedlings is prepared in rows; a strip of said sheet material is spread longitudinally over each row; said holes are formed longitudinally spaced along each row; and the longitudinal edges of each strip are buried in the soil at the sides of the row which it covers.

Claim 16

The method as recited in either of claims 5 or 13 comprising the step of fumigating said soil area before transplanting by injecting pesticide gas under said sheet material.