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Myths and checks

“Just plant a supermarket bulb”

Cloves for planting, the RHS says, should be named varieties bought from a garden centre or mail-order supplier. It is not recommended to plant garlic bought from the supermarket, which may be unsuitable for the British climate and carries a risk of introducing disease. [RHS]

“Elephant garlic is simply giant garlic”

Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is often sold as garlic, the RHS says, but is actually more closely related to leeks. It produces a big bulb with a small number of very large cloves, which have a mild flavour, and is best planted in October. [RHS]

Vampires, charms and folklore

In ancient and medieval times, Britannica says, garlic was prized for its medicinal properties and was carried as a charm against vampires and other evils. [Britannica] According to Central European folklore, Kew says, garlic was believed to ward off evil, including demons, werewolves and vampires. [Kew]

Those are stories people told, and they are worth recording as stories. They are not growing advice.

Health claims stop at the garden gate

Britannica notes that the plant is used in traditional and folk medicine in many places. This site does not make health claims, and treats that only as a record of how garlic has been talked about. [Britannica]

This is a grow-your-own site in the vegetables.im family. It does not make health, nutrition or diet claims, and the printables follow the same rule.

A quick check