Mangelwurzel hits Chelsea
The humble mangelwurzel is scheduled to appear in the Great Pavilion at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show after an online craze among young gardeners revived interest in the root crop. (The Guardian covered the crop’s unexpected comeback and its presence in the pavilion). (theguardian.com)
A mangelwurzel, a root crop once grown mainly for livestock feed, is headed for the Great Pavilion at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in May. (rhs.org.uk; londonpress.info) The Royal Horticultural Society says the 2026 Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 19 to May 23 at Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. Reports on April 12 said the vegetable will be given a prominent place in the pavilion’s vegetable display after a surge of online attention. (rhs.org.uk; londonpress.info) Mangelwurzel is a variety of Beta vulgaris, the same species as beetroot and sugar beet, and it was developed in the 18th century as a fodder crop. Recent gardening coverage describes it as edible for people too, with sweet roots and chard-like leaves. (wikipedia.org; independent.co.uk) The crop’s revival has been driven by young gardeners and allotment growers posting harvest videos online. She Grows Veg, a British heritage seed seller, now markets mangelwurzel as a “viral growing sensation on social media” and sells two varieties at £4.50 a packet. (shegrowsveg.com; shegrowsveg.com; shegrowsveg.com) Kate Cotterill of She Grows Veg said in 2025 that the trend had “gone absolutely bonkers” on social media as amateur growers rediscovered the crop. A report published April 12 said one She Grows Veg reel about mangelwurzel drew 2.8 million views and 58,000 likes. (independent.co.uk; thenyjournals.com) Part of the appeal is scale: recent gardening guides say the conical roots can reach 5 kilograms or more. Growers can also use the leaves like spinach or chard, and the roots can be boiled, roasted, pickled or added to soups and stews. (independent.co.uk; shegrowsveg.com) The vegetable carries older British associations too. Reports say mangelwurzels were once carved for Punkie Night in Hinton St George, Somerset, and for Halloween in parts of Norfolk and Wales, and the children’s character Worzel Gummidge was linked to the crop by name and by one of his interchangeable heads. (independent.co.uk; inyourarea.co.uk) Chelsea’s vegetable displays have long favored polished show specimens such as perfectly round tomatoes and straight carrots. This year’s mangelwurzel slot suggests the show is making room for a crop better known for bulk, odd shape and internet charm. (londonpress.info; rhs.org.uk)
