Description Cabbage, Danish Ballhead The Cabbage family from which developed broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnips and rutabaga is one of the most ancient vegetable families known to man. The ability of brassica to mutate into so many interesting, if not bizarre, forms may be unique in the plant or animal kingdom. Modern day head-forming cabbages developed from a wild, loose-headed cabbage believed to be similar to our savoy cabbages. Cultivation of the wild cabbage began many thousands of years ago in the Middle East and spread east into Asia and west into Europe at about the same time. The smooth, tight-headed cabbages that are popular today are a relatively recent development. The Romans, for example, probably did not grow the smooth varieties, but instead were familiar with a loose-headed, savoy-leaved type of cabbage. The red and purple varieties were developed and popularized in Europe around the 16th century. Cabbages are usually classified by the shape of their heads: round – Danish Ballhead, oval – Mammoth Red Rock, flat – Late Flat Dutch, pointed – Early Jersey Wakefield. Specific subvarieties are differentiated by color, keeping qualities and length of growing season.
