Orchids are a great favourite at the show

The five-day horticultural feast will this year feature a vast array of fruit and vegetable displays, as well as more than 50 new garden designs.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke of York will be among those enjoying a preview of the event.

The Queen, who is in Canada, will miss the show for only the second time.

A garden designed by Sir Terence Conran will mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The peace garden is all white with a scattering of red poppies and a stone wall with the word "peace" inscribed in different languages.

A stream and a pool contain pebbles represent British or Commonwealth lives lost in the war, while a new variety of rose called "Remember" will be launched at the show.

It seems to be a kind of Jamie Oliver influence Guy Barter, Royal Horticultural Society

Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra will also be attending the show at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, which opens to the public on Tuesday.

Gardeners "going back to their roots" will be prominent theme at this year's event.

Salad days

The Fetzer Garden's vegetable patch of carrots, beet, chard and leeks is expected to be one of the highlights.

In the Great Pavilion, herb expert Jekka McVicar will call on people to grow their own salad bags.

Chef Raymond Blanc and Newington Nurseries will display "exotic edibles" from Malaysia, which can be grown in the UK.

Fruit and vegetables will be artfully displayed at the event

There will also be an exhibition in the Lifelong Learning area of an Organic Food for All campaign, which aims to enable people on low incomes to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Royal Horticultural Society adviser Guy Barter said he has received many inquiries about growing vegetables.

He said: "At one time it was old chaps with cloth caps growing vegetables and now it is young women with families.

"It seems to be a kind of Jamie Oliver influence. The vast majority of inquiries are on tomatoes and runner beans."

The show, which is expected to attract 157,000 visitors, will feature around 50 gardens and more than 100 floral exhibitors. It is opening for an extra day on Saturday.