A native of Southern Europe, the Leek was popular with the Israelites in Egypt as with King Henry. Mushrooms came under cultivation in the 17 th century. Prehistoric man, the Chaldeans and the Egyptians, favoured onions. The Romans were responsible for its introduction into England. Parsley is a native of Sardinia and a popular herb from the middle ages.
Parsnips are native to Britain and many other countries.
The Pea came from the prehistoric larder in Europe. The Potato came recently via Virginia, courtesy of Drake and Raleigh, from South America but has a history of over 3,000 years old. The Pumpkin is a native of the tropics and is among the oldest of cultivated vegetables. Radishes came from China, it is thought, and well known in Asia and Greece. The Shallot is named after Ascalon a city of the Philistines.