Gardening has always been full of stories. From old wives’ tales to family traditions, every crop seems to carry a little bit of legend with it. One of my favorites is the ancient Turkish and Middle Eastern folk story about the devil’s feet — a tale that explains the origins of two of the most powerful plants in the garden: garlic and onions.
📖 The Legend of Garlic and Onions
According to the story, when Satan was expelled from the Garden of Eden and cast down to earth, something unusual happened when his feet touched the ground:
- A garlic plant sprouted from the spot where his left foot landed.
- An onion grew where his right foot touched down.
Different versions vary slightly, but this image stays the same: garlic and onions connected to supernatural origins. Over centuries, people linked these pungent plants to protection against evil spirits, vampires, and dark forces — thanks to their strong, sulfurous aroma and medicinal power.
🌿 Garlic and Onions in History
Legends aside, garlic and onions have played important roles in human history. Ancient cultures valued them not only for flavor but also as medicine and protective charms. Garlic was given to soldiers for strength and to ward off illness; onions were used in rituals and remedies.
Whether you believe the folklore or not, it’s clear these two crops are more than kitchen staples — they’re some of the most enduring plants in both history and myth.
🛡 Garlic and Onions as Natural Pest Control
Here’s a benefit that isn’t just folklore: garlic and onions are excellent natural pest control. Their strong scent keeps both insects and animals away from your garden.
- Insects that avoid alliums: aphids, cabbage worms, spider mites, flea beetles.
- Mammals that steer clear: rabbits, deer, squirrels, voles.
Planting garlic and onions around your vegetables acts like a living shield, helping protect your garden without chemicals.
🌱 Why I Love Growing Garlic and Onions
Now, I don’t buy into all the superstitions — but I do love garlic and onions in my kitchen and my garden. They’re hardy, versatile, and surprisingly easy to grow with just a little planning.
Now is the perfect time to order garlic and onion sets for planting. Fall planting ensures you’ll have strong, flavorful harvests next year — and you’ll enjoy the added bonus of pest protection in your garden.
I always order mine from Rare Seeds — they have a great selection and excellent quality I trust year after year.
🌟 Final Thought
Whether you grow them for flavor, folklore, or natural pest control, garlic and onions deserve a spot in every garden. So maybe the devil’s feet weren’t all bad after all — because they left us with two of the most useful (and delicious) crops on earth.
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