A giant, wonky, and ugly vegetable is taking over allotments and back gardens, winning prizes at village shows and prompting social media growalongs. The mangelwurzel, or mangold, looks like a misshapen giant beetroot on steroids. It’s a vegetable that was grown as a crop in Britain for centuries but fell out of favor and was mostly grown as animal fodder.
Somewhere between a beetroot and a sugar beet, the mangelwurzel has a unique appearance and taste. According to the report, it tastes like beetroot but is less earthy. The mangelwurzel was popularized by seed company She Grows Veg, which started selling its seeds two years ago.
She Grows Veg’s CCO and co-founder, Lucy Hutchings, says the company’s video about the mangelwurzel went viral, with around three million views. The video explained what the mangelwurzel was, what it tasted like, and what to do with it. As a result, the mangelwurzel has become the company’s bestselling seed, outselling everything else four times over.
Lucy Hutchings notes that people are initially drawn to the mangelwurzel’s novelty and size, but they stick with it because it’s a great vegetable. The mangelwurzel can be used in a variety of dishes, and its leaves can be harvested and used like chard. It’s also easy to grow, with a huge sowing window and the ability to swell above the ground, making it easy to see when it’s ready.
The mangelwurzel is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many ways. It can be fermented and made into wine, and its leaves can be used in salads. Lucy Hutchings explains that the best time to eat a mangelwurzel is when it has reached human head size, as it’s nice and tender at that stage. However, it can be left to grow larger, and some people even use it to make wine.
The mangelwurzel’s popularity has led to the creation of the Great Polden Hills Mangelwurzel Day, a festival that will take place in Somerset on September 20. The festival will feature awards for the heaviest, longest, and largest mangelwurzels, as well as a category for the one that looks most like Donald Trump.
The festival’s organizer, Beverley Finnegan, says the event has grown almost as fast as a mangelwurzel. She started by growing a dozen mangelwurzels in her garden and was pleasantly surprised by their taste. She then put out a call on a local Facebook group for people to grow their own mangelwurzels and compete in a local competition.
The response was phenomenal. The event will feature live music, food, and drink.
As the mangelwurzel’s popularity continues to grow, it’s likely that we’ll see more festivals and events celebrating this unusual vegetable. With its rich history and versatility in cooking, the mangelwurzel is a great example of how a forgotten vegetable can be rediscovered and loved by a new generation of gardeners and foodies.
Its success may be due to a combination of factors, including its unique appearance, taste, and ease of growth. As people become more interested in growing their own food and trying new vegetables, the mangelwurzel is well-positioned to become a staple in many gardens. Its ability to be used in a variety of dishes and its potential for fermentation and wine-making only add to its appeal.
The mangelwurzel’s story is a great example of how social media can help to popularize a forgotten vegetable. With the help of She Grows Veg and other enthusiasts, the mangelwurzel has gone from being a relatively unknown vegetable to a viral sensation. As the Great Polden Hills Mangelwurzel Day approaches, it’s clear that the mangelwurzel is here to stay.
For gardeners looking to grow their own mangelwurzels, it’s worth considering the RHS Badminton Show Gardens for inspiration.
They are also a great addition to a summer garden, and with the right care, can thrive in extreme heat.
