Cabbage

In the 18th century, selections of cabbage plants which produced a large number of large, tightly packed leafy buds along the main stem were made in Belgium. These became known as Brussels sprouts and were named Brassica oleracea variety gemmifera, meaning "garden cabbage bearing gems."

People in the Mediterranean region began growing this first ancient "cabbage" plant as a leafy vegetable. Because leaves were the part of the plant which were consumed, it was natural that those plants with the largest leaves would be selectively propagated for next year's crop. This resulted in large and larger-leafed plants slowly being developed as the seed from the largest-leafed plants was favoured. By the 5th century B.C., continued preference for ever-larger leaved had led to the development of the vegetable we now know as kale. Kale is known botanically by the name Brassica oleracea variety acephala which translates to mean "cabbage of the vegetable garden without a head."

Cabbage:

People in the Mediterranean region began growing this first ancient "cabbage" plant as a leafy vegetable