I have incorporated some funny gardening superstitions into a presentation that I give other gardeners. My talk goes something like this: Peppers will be hot if planted by a mean person, bad luck to plant sage in your own garden, get a stranger to do it, the size of a cucumber is determined by the virility of the man that planted it, and soak watermelon seeds in milk to make them sweeter. There are more garden myths and superstitions that I have heard. Please let me hear some of the myths or superstitions that you use in gardening that are tried and true or false as a $4.00 bill. The one in my area that I found to be totally false was: no frost after the dogwoods bloom. I may have to add some good ones to my presentation.
I don't really go by any one thing but here are a few myths and superstitions people might have went by at one time: 1. Seed morning glories When maple leaves reach full size. 2.Japanese beetles arrive When morning glory vines start to climb. 3. The holly bush is good luck at Christmas but if it is full and over abundant in berries it foretells of a harsh winter or if the berries are stepped on it would bring bad luck. 4. blackberries were planted around graves to ward off evil spirits. 5. Herbs: If a bay tree used to be planted near the home it protected those inside from sickness. 6. Thyme was once associated with magic and fairies. 7. pumpkin was once thought that it brought lice. 8. wreaths or garland worn around the neck would protect against vampires and witches. 9. lettuce was to be beleived to prevent drunkness. 10. planting white geraniums in the garden would keep snakes away.
Thanks petunia for those great myths. I hope to remember to check to see if any are true. My middle daughter says you are "awesome." My children have always enjoyed folk lore. I definitely need to ward off snakes and I am game for anything. I'm planting white geraniums. Thanks again for sharing.
I guess that this old saying falls in the realm of folklore: "Rosemary prospers where a woman wears the pants". I haven't told this to my hubby - but our Rosemary is looking pretty vigorous these days.
Not true here I just received Rosemary..... Know what? I should give it to my son's wife.. Doesnt fit here at all .. Either his way or no way here. ;o)
That is so funny Zuzu's petals. I may buy me some rosemary to see if I have on any pants. A lot of folk lore is biased towards woman and we rot alot of things in the garden. Women always get a bum rap throughout history.
I'm surprised, but not shocked to see that the gardeners that have taken my poll do not use any gardening superstitions. Wonder do any myth or superstition play in any other area of life. My grandmother had told me not to cut my fingernails on a Sunday or I would see blood or be shamed before the week was through. It took a lot of years not to heed that superstition, because either or the outcomes were horrible. I overcame that one superstition when I had my second child 16 years ago. I am not ruled by superstitions in my day to day life either. Enjoy nature and enjoy life.
the only superstition that i heard of is about those brown an black fuzzy catipillars,, the thicker the fur, the harder the winter,, the thinner the fur, the easier the winter. i do have rosemary here that is holding on to just about one leaf. maybe i need to have a girls day shopping spree an get a new pair of pants huh....lol.
Hey passerbyers! Take the survey! I want to put the info in my spring flower presentation and its fun! Thanks for stopping by whether you take the survey or not. The people that I present to find this the most entertaining part of the presentation and I love doing it.
When I first moved here to rural Tenn. people were always telling me to only plant by the "signs." I had no clue what they were talking about! p.s.-my rosemary is HUGE!
Hiya D2D, This is an interesting thread. I do not use any myths or such to guide my gardening, I just read the back of the seed pacckage or use my own experience. Having said that, I know for a fact that several people on our allotment complex do. The closest that I have come to using mythsis to have done a trial of using what they call, "EM" (Effectibe Micro-organisms). I like trying new things and had a measurable success with it, so I use it with some plants now and to help with composting and the processing of animal manure.
Thanks for taking the survey for me. I APPRECIATE you all so much and look forward to hearing every bit and pieces about you alls gardening lives. Continue to enjoy nature and enjoy life.
