From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Newcastle, CA

i thought i'd ask. i saw a youtube potato harvest video in alaska and they pulled out a single potato that was over 5 pounds. it was impressive. I want a giant potato! will buy from you for seed potato.

1/24/2020 12:18:28 PM

Savage, MN

I know a lot of the guys across the pond grow giant potatoes.

1/24/2020 12:43:20 PM

Newcastle, CA

any leads?

1/24/2020 12:52:13 PM

Newcastle, CA

Also, i havent been able to find them for sale in my area, but if anyone sees Carisma potatoes or "lotatoes" as ive seen advertised in australia markets i'd buy a bag or two from you. they are lower carbohydrate potatoes.

1/24/2020 1:44:29 PM

Norfolk, UK

As Reed said, quite a few here in the UK do. Here's a grow guide from UK growing guru Peter Glazebrook:

http://www.giantveg.co.uk/index.php/en/grow-guides/11-growing-guides/96-how-to-grow-giant-potatoes

Variety used is Kondor.

Peter goes under the name giantveg in the BP.com diary pages, so you may want to check old diaries. It not going to be giant potato specific but you might glean something from old posts here and there too.

1/24/2020 2:22:29 PM

Newcastle, CA

thanks!

1/24/2020 2:29:34 PM

Norfolk, UK

Peter's potato in the pic of the article at 4.98kg (10.98 lb ) is the current world record I believe

1/24/2020 2:35:11 PM

Norfolk, UK

sebastian1 on here too (UK) also grows them - I don't I'm afraid, but see a fair bit posted on the two giant veg FB groups. Worth reaching out.

1/24/2020 2:44:20 PM

Newcastle, CA

looks like glazebrook limits growth to one tuber. That must be hard since they are underground.

1/24/2020 5:09:46 PM

Valencia

Read o kondor available must have run out glazebrook suggested long red or red long potato variety

1/25/2020 12:38:05 PM

Valencia

No kondor available

1/25/2020 12:38:26 PM

Grittyville, WA

How do you select just one tuber? I would like to try also but it has to be the most lowly of all vegetables . . . Might be hard to get a high five even.
I am up for it... I think getting disease free stock would be the first step. A lot of the diseases overlap so a clean rotation or clean soil would help.

1/26/2020 4:38:55 PM

Grittyville, WA

The cal white ones are heavy and grow fast but lack the branching. Kondor looks somewhere between a red and a russet.

1/26/2020 4:49:26 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

When you say no Kondor available do you mean they went extinct? I am looking for giant potatoes too. Can we ship in from Europe or is that against some law? Very interesting, my record is 2.67 pounds lol

1/26/2020 7:48:33 PM

I think Kondor potato seeds are not available as opposed to seed potato. There was a Hebb trying to grow some tubers out for the seed exchange a couple of years ago. Dorset farmer and Mr. Fortey also grow them. You might try contacting Dutch Brad on either the European board or other gardening board because he seems to be in the know on a lot of stuff.

1/26/2020 9:03:46 PM

Glenoma Kins, potatoes have to be hilled as they are growing or the spuds become exposed and suffer sunburn. I think the competition potatoes are grown in some sort of loose potting mix which allows for culling. Also I am pretty sure I read when you plant from a tuber to just use one eye which helps keep the amount down.
I am pretty sure that potato seeds are easier to get through legally as opposed to seed potatoes that have to be inspected.

1/26/2020 9:12:14 PM

Grittyville, WA

One of the U.S. catalogs had kondor. I just have to find which one. I don't remember where I saw it.

1/26/2020 10:14:06 PM

Netherlands

Kondor is a commercial potato not usually available to the general public. It is grown mainly in northern Africa and eastern Europe. It has a natural tendancy to produce siamese twins, triplets, etc.

The key to limiting the number of potatoes on the plant is to cut out all but one eye before planting. Actually you place the potato above ground until it has sprouted.
You let one of the eyes produce a little plant and then you transplant that into a raised bed or barrel. Once in a while you carefully feel under the soil if there is more than one potato growing. You remove the smaller one(s).

1/27/2020 3:10:36 AM

Thanks Dutch Brad. Does the Kondor grow true potato seed(tps)?
I realize there is always risk in planting seed as opposed to a tuber because you do not know if it crossed and what you will get.
Not every variety will produce tps.

1/27/2020 6:54:38 AM

Newcastle, CA

yeah, its not available anywhere and seems mostly in the UK area. The cal white is what i'm hoping to get now. green acres has them listed for sale on their website.

1/28/2020 2:50:59 PM