Garlic: From Ancient Roots to Alberta Agriculture (and Keeping Vampires Away)

agforlife
7 hours ago
3 min read

Few plants have a story as rich—and as flavourful—as garlic. Known as the “stinking rose,” garlic has been treasured for thousands of years for its taste, health benefits, and even its supposed supernatural powers. Today, it’s as likely to show up in an Alberta garden as it is in ancient legends.

A Bite of Garlic's History

Garlic has been cultivated for over 5,000 years, with origins tracing back to Central Asia. Ancient Egyptians fed garlic to workers building the pyramids, believing it boosted strength and stamina. Greek athletes ate garlic before competitions, while Roman soldiers carried it as protection and fuel for battle. Beyond food, garlic was used medicinally in nearly every culture—from fighting infections in traditional Chinese medicine to warding off evil spirits in European folklore [1][2].

Garlic in Agriculture

Garlic isn’t just a kitchen staple—it’s a crop that links farmers and consumers through local food systems. While most of Canada’s garlic is still imported, Alberta farmers and market gardeners are steadily increasing production to meet local demand. Garlic fits well into farm operations because it is hardy, stores well, and adds diversity to crop rotations.

Farmers’ markets across Alberta often showcase locally grown garlic, offering fresh bulbs, braids, and scapes. Choosing Alberta-grown garlic supports farm families, strengthens food security, and reduces dependence on imports. In this way, growing garlic is more than a gardening hobby—it’s part of a broader agricultural story.

Watch our interview with Fifth Gen Gardens to learn more about local garlic production: https://youtu.be/RLUBGWz9aRI?si=86i5XFb9U2rd4aS3

Growing Garlic in Alberta

Good news for prairie gardeners: garlic grows well in Alberta’s climate, provided you plan ahead. Here’s how:

Planting Time: The best time to plant garlic is in the fall, usually late September to mid-October, just before the ground freezes. This allows cloves to establish roots before winter [3].
Varieties: Hardneck garlic is best suited for Alberta because it thrives in cold climates. It also produces scapes (edible flower stalks), a bonus harvest in early summer [3].
Soil & Sun: Garlic loves well-drained soil and full sun. Raised beds or loosened garden soil give the bulbs room to grow.
Harvest: By mid-to-late July, garlic leaves begin to yellow—your signal it’s nearly harvest time. Carefully dig, cure in a dry place, and enjoy Alberta-grown garlic for months to come [4].

Whether in a backyard or on a farm field, garlic connects Alberta growers to global agricultural traditions.

Garlic and Vampires

Perhaps the most famous folklore linked to garlic is its power to ward off vampires. The origins of this myth likely stem from garlic’s strong smell, which was thought to repel not only pests and disease but also evil. In medieval Europe, people would hang garlic braids in their homes or wear cloves around their necks as protection [5].

Today, while Alberta farmers and gardeners don’t need to worry about vampires, it’s fun to imagine that garlic fields double as supernatural insurance. Whether or not Count Dracula shows up, garlic still provides a reliable—and delicious—crop for kitchens and communities.

Garlic: Practical, Tasty, and a Little Bit Magical

From ancient fields to modern farms, garlic has always been more than just food. It’s part of our shared agricultural story—cultivated for strength, healing, flavour, and folklore. In Alberta, growing garlic connects us to both the land and these timeless traditions.

So this fall, consider planting a few cloves. Come summer, you’ll have a harvest that’s equal parts history, agriculture, and—if legend holds true—vampire protection.

Teacher Bonus: Student Guiding Questions

Garlic has been used in history for food, medicine, and folklore. Which role do you find most interesting, and why?
Why do you think garlic grows well in Alberta’s climate?
Folklore says garlic repels vampires. What might this story tell us about how people in the past explained things they didn’t understand?
How does garlic farming in Alberta support local food systems and reduce reliance on imports?
If you were designing a farm in Alberta, where would garlic fit into your crop plan, and why?

References

Block, E. (2010). Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry.
Cavendish, M. (2010). Mythology: Myths, Legends, & Fantasies. Marshall Cavendish Corporation.
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. (2021). “Garlic Production.” https://www.alberta.ca/garlic-production.aspx
University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources. (n.d.). “Garlic for Northern Gardeners.” https://gardening.usask.ca
Dundes, A. (1998). The Vampire: A Casebook. University of Wisconsin Press.