The invention discloses a special-shaped or vertical mould transfer concrete manufacturing method and a transfer concrete set retarder used for the method. The raw materials of the transfer concrete set retarder include white sugar, sodium gluconate, a silane coupling agent and water. The special-shaped or vertical mould transfer concrete manufacturing method comprises the following steps that 1)the transfer concrete set retarder is sprayed into a special-shaped or vertical mould according to a required pattern, and a required pattern area is formed; 2) concrete is poured into the special-shaped or vertical mould, the special-shaped or vertical mould is dismounted after concrete is congealed, and a special-shaped concrete element or a vertical concrete element is obtained; and 3) the pattern area of the obtained special-shaped concrete element or the obtained vertical concrete element is subjected to high-pressure washing, aggregate of the pattern area is exposed out, and therefore, the pattern is shown. The transfer concrete set retarder is firmly bonded to the surface of the mould, it is guaranteed that the transfer pattern precisely adheres to the surface of the special-shapedor vertical mould, and dispersing and blurring caused by flowing of the concrete are avoided.