Giant vegetables grown in Cornwall will feature in the upcoming HBO television adaptation of Harry Potter, after production scouts tracked down a local horticulturist.
Nathan Mitchell, who lives in St Day near Redruth, was contacted by series producers after a friend in Wales recommended his prize-winning produce for the magical set design, BBC News reported.
Production sculptors based in Cornwall initially visited Mitchell to collect a few leaves for a test mould. The next day, after confirming the material worked for production, they committed to taking the oversized crops, according to BBC News.
“Two of the [production] sculptors are actually based in Cornwall and they wanted to come over and get a few leaves first of all to give them a test mould,” Mitchell said.
“Then the next day they confirmed it all worked and said ‘yeah, we’ll have the cabbages’.”
Mitchell grew up watching the original film adaptations and describes himself as a dedicated fan of the franchise. He said that the television team subsequently returned to source oversized pumpkins through his connections in the competitive growing community, even though he does not cultivate pumpkins himself.
“They have been back in contact about getting some pumpkins,” Mitchell told BBC News. “I don’t grow pumpkins myself… but I’ve got a few friends in the giant veg world who I’ve managed to get hold of, and I think they’re now working with them as well.”
Production on the fantasy series is currently underway, with reports indicating an expected broadcast debut on December 25. Mitchell anticipates his cabbages will appear during the second season of the programme, joking about potential credits.
“We might be another year or so waiting,” Mitchell told BBC News. “I’m just wondering if I’ll get a credit as ‘cabbage advisor’.”
Mitchell has spent more than 10 years cultivating oversized fruit and vegetables for national competitions.
His largest recorded cabbage weighed 56 lbs (25kg), securing a fourth-place finish at his debut National Giant Vegetables Championship in 2022. He also competed with a smaller pumpkin weighing roughly 40 lbs (18kg), which placed third.
Cultivating giant produce proved challenging in 2026 due to extreme weather conditions across the UK.
“Everyone had the same issue because of the weather this year because it’s been so hot,” Mitchell said, according to BBC News, referencing the hottest summer on record.
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