Homemade Garlic Planter

When cultivating entire beds or fields of garlic, garlic planters are essential for expediting the sowing stage. Commercial garlic planters are devices that are pulled by tractor. The device pokes holes in the ground for planting garlic cloves. Some garlic planters have hoppers that drop cloves into the ground, while others require a rider to drop in the cloves by hand. For beginning or smaller-scale garlic farmers, investing in a planter is not always feasible. The next best thing is a homemade wooden soil plugger that makes two dozen garlic planting holes at once.

Plywood, 3/4-inch

Saw

Dowel rod, 1- to 1 1/2-inch

Band saw, jig saw, sander or chisel

Wood screws, 1 3/4-inch

Cut a 30-inch by 55-inch piece of 3/4-inch-thick plywood.

Cut 1- to 1 1/2-inch diameter dowel rod into 24 pieces, each 6 inches long, for the plugs. Cut the ends of each dowel rod piece to have pointed tips, like stakes. Optional tools for shaping the point include a band saw, a jig saw, an electric or upright sander or a chisel. Drill pilot holes down the core of each piece, on the ends opposite the points.

Drill pilot holes in the plywood. The spacing will match the spacing requirements for garlic. Drill six rows spaced 10 inches apart down the long side of the plywood. Drill four holes in each row, spaced 8 inches apart.

Secure the plugs to the plywood by drilling 1 3/4-inch-long wood screws through the plywood pilot holes and into the plug pilot holes.

Operate the planter with a partner. Secure both short ends of the plywood with the plugs facing down. Place the planter on the ground and push the plugs into the soil to create six rows with four holes each. Make holes of the requisite garlic planting depth for the regional climate. Pick up the planter and set it into the adjacent ground to add four more holes to each row. Drop garlic cloves into the holes and cover with soil.