The Vegetable Guide – Broccoli
Introduction It is believed that broccoli was known to the Romans at the time of Pliny , but reference to this vegetable group it with Brassica oleracea botrytis . The first observance of Brassica oleracea italica as such was made in 1724 by an English author who call it “ sprout colliclower or Italian asparagus . ” In 1729 another English gardener reported that there were several kinds that he had been develop in London for two years ; “ that with small , whitish - chicken flowers like the cauliflower ; others like the common sprout and flowers of a cole ; and third with purple flowers ; all of which total motley together ....