"Cement Block Garlic" Grows Big

If you want to grow bigger-than-usual garlic, try growing it inside cement blocks, suggests Ted Cole of Fort Bragg, Calif., who recently sent FARM SHOW photos of the system he uses.

"I grow garlic in blocks set side by side in rows," says Cole. "First I lay 1/4-in. hardware cloth under all the blocks to keep gophers from tunneling up under them, and then I sprinkle about 1/8 of a cup of gypsum in the bottom of each block. Then I mix compost with blood meal, peat moss, phosphorous, potash, and a little cow manure.

I fill the blocks with this mixture and then plant oneclove into each of the holes in the block, about 1 to 1 1/2 in. deep. As the compost settles from watering, I keep it topped off with more of the mixture.

"I've found that garlic and raspberries grow well together, so you might think about planting them close to each other. Then, water and wait and be surprised at harvest time."