INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT VEGETABLES IN YOUR GARDEN

From brinjal to carrot, all vegetables have some interesting fact. Let's find out those fun facts and get one step closer to getting to know your vegetable garden well. Duh! We are not talking about health benefits, we are talking about those unknown facts and going to make some interesting revelations here. After reading these, you can simply brag about your knowledge of your garden.

Onions  - These little vegetables know how to make you cry. They bring tears to your eyes because of the sulfur content. When onions are cut, they release sulfur fumes that react with moisture in the eyes and form a mild form of sulfuric acid. The tear glands in the eye respond by producing tears to remove the substance. The trick to reducing these stinging vapors is cooling the onion before chopping it.

Eggplant  – Also known as brinjal, they are believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent, from where they spread to western Asia. It got its name from the common varieties grown in England, which were similar in shape and color to a chicken egg. In the western-Mediterranean region, the Arabic name, al-Badinjan, evolved into the Portuguese Beringela. The name became brinjal when taken to the southeast by Portuguese colonists. This name is now used globally.

Fennel  – Fennel has been used since ancient times to ward off evil spirits while the ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Romans believed that it bestowed longevity, courage and strength. Sweet fennel oil is used as a digestive aid. However, it should be avoided during pregnancy.

Beets  – The wild beet is believed to have spread from the coast of North Africa along the Mediterranean coast to the Caspian Sea. Earlier only leaves were consumed. The Romans first discovered and cooked the taproot. It was in the 15th century that beets made their debut in recipe books in England. The vegetable became famous in 1975 when the USSR's Soyuz 19 welcomed America's Apollo 18 astronauts with beetroot soup, which was cooked in the zero gravity of space.

Carrots  – During World War II, British children often ate the humble carrot as an alternative to a fruit that could no longer be obtained. The British government read posters with the slogan 'Carrots keep you healthy and help you see in the dark.

Stay tuned for more facts about those lovely vegetables in your garden!