Apparatus by which a protective sleeve is applied on a seedling

An apparatus is disclosed and configured for applying a tube-shaped sleeve onto a seedling standing in a cultivation cell formed in a cultivation cassette comprising at least one row of cultivation cells, the apparatus comprising positioning means for positioning of the cultivation cassette relative to a holder (6) for sleeves, the sleeve holder (6) arranged movable and driven for reciprocating motion in the length direction of a seedling to effect insertion of the seedling into a sleeve such that the sleeve extends about the seedling in at least a portion of the length of the seedling. A seedling aligner (4) incorporated in the apparatus comprises a set of rulers (9) which extend side by side in pairs and which are associated with drive means (13) by which each ruler (9) is pivotable about a pivot axis located near to one longitudinal edge of each ruler respectively, to assume a horizontal orientation wherein the rulers between themselves support the seedling in the path of movement of the sleeve holder (6), from which position the rulers (9) are pivotable into a vertical orientation wherein the rulers extend outside and on opposite sides of the sleeve holder's (6) path of movement.