5 Fun Facts About Garlic

Garlic is an exceptional bulbous flowering plant with many benefits.

It has its own holiday: National Garlic Day is always celebrated on April 19th.
It is a natural healer: Thanks to its antibacterial properties, including Allicin (a compound rich in minerals like phosphorus, zinc, potassium and magnesium) and Vitamins C, K, Folate, niacin and thiamine, many believe that garlic helps treat acne, cold sores, athlete’s foot, coughs and colds; consuming it can help your heart and liver, fight against bacteria, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and improve bone health.
It has a robust history: It was first cultivated in Central Asia over 5,000 years ago, it was used in ancient Egypt to embalm the dead, it was considered a sacred plant by the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was thought to ward off evil spirits in medieval Europe, and it used to be called Russian penicillin & given to soldiers in WW2 as medicine.
It is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae): In Canada, you will find shoots of allium canadense (a.k.a meadow garlic, wild garlic or Canadian garlic) popping up in early spring. (For more on allium, check out “5 Showstopping Spring Bulb Combinations).
It is a natural pesticide and fungicide: Simply fill a spray bottle with water, add some smashed up garlic bulbs and a dash of soap, let rest for a bit, and viola.