Mangelwurzel to Star at Chelsea Flower Show After Social Media Craze
The humble mangelwurzel, traditionally an unloved root vegetable used for cattle feed, is set to take center stage in the Great Pavilion at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. This unexpected rise in prominence follows a viral online trend among young gardeners on platforms like Instagram, where the vegetable's bizarre appearance and vibrant red color have captivated audiences. Kate Cotterill and Lucy Hutchings of She Grows Veg, who cultivate these heritage varieties, report that mangelwurzels are now their best-selling seeds. The duo aims to inspire a new generation to grow unique, productive, and easy-to-cultivate food crops. Alongside the mangelwurzel, the display will feature other unusually colored vegetables, such as black tomatoes and chillies, prized for their antioxidant content and distinct flavors. Additionally, the wisteria flower makes a rare return to the pavilion after a fifteen-year absence, hosted by the Brantwood Trust. The event highlights a shifting interest in heritage gardening, social media-driven agricultural trends, and the aesthetic appeal of unconventional produce, transforming a former peasant crop into a celebrated horticultural star.
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Mangelwurzel to Star at Chelsea Flower Show After Social Media Craze
The humble mangelwurzel, traditionally an unloved root vegetable used for cattle feed, is set to take center stage in the Great Pavilion at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. This unexpected rise in prominence follows a viral online trend among young gardeners on platforms like Instagram, where the vegetable's bizarre appearance and vibrant red color have captivated audiences. Kate Cotterill and Lucy Hutchings of She Grows Veg, who cultivate these heritage varieties, report that mangelwurzels are now their best-selling seeds. The duo aims to inspire a new generation to grow unique, productive, and easy-to-cultivate food crops. Alongside the mangelwurzel, the display will feature other unusually colored vegetables, such as black tomatoes and chillies, prized for their antioxidant content and distinct flavors. Additionally, the wisteria flower makes a rare return to the pavilion after a fifteen-year absence, hosted by the Brantwood Trust. The event highlights a shifting interest in heritage gardening, social media-driven agricultural trends, and the aesthetic appeal of unconventional produce, transforming a former peasant crop into a celebrated horticultural star.
The Guardian