Bed Marker for Garlic

Lamb Abbey Orchards · July 2, 2009

A few years back I decided to plant a couple acres of garlic to see how it would grow here in Maine. I knew the process of planting each clove by hand would be a bit tedious and I wanted to come up with some kind of a device that would enable me to mark the tops of raised beds in a 6" x 8" grid, so the garlic could be planted in perfect rows with little fuss.

I decided to modify a lawn roller--the kind you see at golf courses--with a series of metal cones welded to the surface that could be rolled down a raised bed. I also had the sides cut off of it so the roller was a hollow cylinder. I lucked out making this thing, because the circumference of the roller I modified was a multiple of 8", allowing for a continuous 6" x 8" grid.

The bed marker works beautifully. Here are a couple pics:

Raised beds made first:

Roller then gets rolled across the length of the raised bed:

Perfect 6" x 8" grid marking the location of the cloves is the result:

Cloves are then planted into each hole easily, require no measuring and little effort:

If you're considering planting a large block of garlic, I highly recommend having someone make one of these for you.

John

OmahaJB · July 5, 2009

John,

It's always interesting seeing creative ideas put into action. Looks like it worked out well for you.

Just curious what you did with all of the garlic? Farmer's Market's, or did you sell to stores and restaurants?

Lamb Abbey Orchards · July 5, 2009

All three. We sold the garlic via a local farmer's market, through a number of local stores and to a handful of restaurants in the area. I also used a ton of it, made some of my own garlic powder too, and gave a lot away to friends.

John

OmahaJB · July 5, 2009

And I thought I was doing good growing close to 40! Last year I didn't use much of what I grew but hope to find ways to use this year's harvest. Probably for chili more than anything.

dice · July 5, 2009

Did you invent/build that raised bed maker, too?

ovenbird · August 30, 2009

Geez, and I thought my 4' x 8' bed of garlic was excessive!

No, really, it is a great thing to have the right tool for any job. This one looks ideal!

Mjdtexan · October 27, 2009

I would like to know where you got that implement in the first photo. I really need one of those. I just got a tiller for my tractor

icelord · October 27, 2009

Can you tell us where you got the raised bed maker? I really need one bad
I am putting in 10,000 onions in the spring.

Thank you, Dean

Mjdtexan · October 27, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by icelord

Can you tell us where you got the raised bed maker? I really need one bad
I am putting in 10,000 onions in the spring.

Thank you, Dean

Are you talking about the first picture? I would like to get one of those too. I am making a normal bed maker but I really like the one in the first photo

July 2, 2009	#1
Lamb Abbey Orchards Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Union, Maine / Coastal Zone 5 Posts: 44	Bed Marker for Garlic A few years back I decided to plant a couple acres of garlic to see how it would grow here in Maine. I knew the process of planting each clove by hand would be a bit tedious and I wanted to come up with some kind of a device that would enable me to mark the tops of raised beds in a 6" x 8" grid, so the garlic could be planted in perfect rows with little fuss. I decided to modify a lawn roller--the kind you see at golf courses--with a series of metal cones welded to the surface that could be rolled down a raised bed. I also had the sides cut off of it so the roller was a hollow cylinder. I lucked out making this thing, because the circumference of the roller I modified was a multiple of 8", allowing for a continuous 6" x 8" grid. The bed marker works beautifully. Here are a couple pics: Raised beds made first: Roller then gets rolled across the length of the raised bed: Perfect 6" x 8" grid marking the location of the cloves is the result: Cloves are then planted into each hole easily, require no measuring and little effort: If you're considering planting a large block of garlic, I highly recommend having someone make one of these for you. John

July 5, 2009	#5
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Did you invent/build that raised bed maker, too? __________________ -- alias

October 27, 2009	#7
Mjdtexan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston(ish), Texas Posts: 95	I would like to know where you got that implement in the first photo. I really need one of those. I just got a tiller for my tractor __________________ Knows nothing about tomatoes, wants to learn everything about tomatoes.Wine Maker

October 27, 2009	#8
icelord Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 23463 copemish Mi 49625 Posts: 180	raised bed Can you tell us where you got the raised bed maker? I really need one bad I am putting in 10,000 onions in the spring. Thank you, Dean

July 5, 2009	#2
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	John, It's always interesting seeing creative ideas put into action. Looks like it worked out well for you. Just curious what you did with all of the garlic? Farmer's Market's, or did you sell to stores and restaurants?

August 30, 2009	#6
ovenbird Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 27	Geez, and I thought my 4' x 8' bed of garlic was excessive! No, really, it is a great thing to have the right tool for any job. This one looks ideal!