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Garden Superstitions

It’s Halloween time and horticulture expert Dr. Lelia Kelly talks about how plants have been part of superstitions over history. Everyone knows that garlic will keep vampires away but in the middle ages people also used fennel seed to ward off evil. They believed that if you put fennel seeds in your key holes evil spirits could not get into your home. Another superstition is that you can use a sprig of basil to tell if your romantic interest is worthy and pure. Give them the basil and if it wilts, they are unworthy. Potatoes were brought back to Europe from America but people thought they were the devil’s food because they grew underground. To ward off the devil they would plant the potatoes on Good Friday and water them with holly water.

Dr. Kelly also talks about the Salem Witch Trials. She says that modern researchers have studied the symptoms displayed by the bewitched girls. The symptoms can be explained by eating the ergot fungus. This fungus grows on wet rye.

She also talks about the roots of the legends of vampires. Pale skin, sensitivity to light, and blood around the mouth are some things you think of describing vampires. These things also describe the symptoms of a nutritional deficiency of niacin called pellagra. This deficiency was common in Europe especially among the poorer class when they had only corn to eat.

October 27, 2018

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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search