The 5 Heaviest Potatoes Ever Grown: Why The 17-Pound 'Doug' Was Disqualified

The quest for the world's largest potato is one of the most enduring, quirky, and surprisingly dramatic competitions in the world of extreme horticulture. As of December 13, 2025, the official record remains a monumental spud grown in the United Kingdom, a true behemoth that has held the title for over a decade. However, the story of the "largest potato" is far more interesting than a single number, featuring a recent, highly-publicized challenger from New Zealand named "Doug" that shocked the world with its massive size—only to be disqualified in a controversial twist that has rewritten the rules of the competition.

The distinction between a true potato and a massive, potato-like tuber is the central drama in this agricultural arms race. While the official record stands firm, the tale of the pretenders and the secrets of the champion growers offer a fascinating look into the science, dedication, and occasional heartbreak of chasing a Guinness World Record in giant vegetable growing.

The Official Champion: Peter Glazebrook's Record-Breaking Spud

The current, undisputed holder of the Guinness World Record for the Heaviest Potato is a master grower from the United Kingdom, a man whose name is synonymous with colossal vegetables. His record-breaking achievement set a standard that has yet to be officially surpassed.

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Peter Glazebrook: The King of Giant Vegetables

• Full Name: Peter Glazebrook
• Location: Newark, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
• Record Date: September 4, 2011
• Record Weight: 4.98 kg (10 lb 14 oz or 10.98 lbs)
• Potato Variety: 'Kondor'
• Other Records: Glazebrook is a serial record-breaker, also holding titles for the heaviest cauliflower, the longest leek, and the heaviest onion, cementing his status as a giant vegetable legend.
• Weighing Location: The National Gardening Show at the Royal Bath & West Showground.

Glazebrook’s potato, a true marvel of cultivation, weighed in at nearly 11 pounds. For context, the average supermarket potato weighs only a few ounces. His success is not a matter of luck but a result of meticulous planning, controlled environments, and decades of experience in extreme horticulture. He is known for using specialized fertilizers, ensuring perfect soil composition, and carefully managing the temperature and moisture of his growing beds to maximize tuber growth.

The Disqualified Challenger: The Saga of 'Doug' the Tuber

In late 2021, the world of giant vegetables was rocked by a challenger that seemed destined to smash Glazebrook's record. Unearthed in New Zealand, this behemoth weighed nearly double the current record, but its journey to the record books ended in disappointment and a surprising scientific revelation.

Doug (or Dug): The New Zealand Tuber

• Finders: Colin and Donna Craig-Brown
• Location: Their garden near Hamilton, New Zealand
• Date Found: August 30, 2021
• Reported Weight: Approximately 7.9 kg (17.4 lbs)
• Nickname: "Doug" (later sometimes spelled "Dug" after the way it was unearthed)
• Disqualification Reason: DNA testing confirmed it was a tuber of a type of gourd, not a potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Colin Craig-Brown hit the massive object with a fork while weeding his garden, initially believing it to be some kind of giant fungal growth or an unusual rock. After a painstaking excavation, he and his wife, Donna, uncovered the massive, lumpy, and oddly-shaped tuber, which they nicknamed Doug. The couple treated Doug like a pet, taking it on walks and even building a small cart for it, capturing worldwide media attention and sparking a frenzy of excitement that a new world record was imminent.

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The dream was tragically mashed when Guinness World Records (GWR) required a DNA test to confirm the specimen was indeed a potato (Solanum tuberosum). The results came back: Doug was a gourd tuber, a starchy storage root from a different plant species, and was officially disqualified. This incident highlights the strict scientific criteria GWR uses for its records, ensuring that only true members of the potato family (Solanaceae) can hold the title.

The Science of Spuds: How to Grow a Giant Potato

Growing a potato that can reach world-record size is a blend of genetics, soil science, and pure dedication. It's not just about letting a potato grow for a long time; it requires precise agricultural strategy and a deep understanding of the plant's needs. This pursuit of colossal size has led to a niche field of competitive vegetable growing.

Key Factors for Maximum Tuber Size

The secret to a record-breaking spud lies in maximizing the amount of energy the potato plant (the foliage above ground) can send down to a single, select tuber (the potato itself). This involves several critical steps:

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• Selecting the Right Variety: Not all potatoes are created equal. Growers like Peter Glazebrook use varieties known for their potential to bulk up, such as the 'Kondor' potato. Other large-growing varieties include 'Russet Burbank' and certain heirloom types.
• Soil Composition and Aeration: Giant spuds require a loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The soil must be highly aerated to allow the tuber to expand without resistance. Competition growers often create specialized, deep growing beds and use a mix of compost, sand, and manure.
• Water and Nutrients: Consistent watering is crucial. Any stress from drought can stop growth. The plant needs a steady supply of nutrients, particularly potash (potassium), which is vital for tuber formation and growth. A balanced fertilizer regimen is essential to support the massive foliage that powers the underground growth.
• The Single Tuber Strategy: To get a massive single potato, growers often employ a technique to limit the number of tubers the plant produces. By reducing the number of seed potatoes planted or by carefully pruning the underground growth, the plant is forced to funnel all its energy into one or two massive tubers instead of many smaller ones.
• Hilling and Depth: As the potato grows, growers repeatedly "hill" or mound soil around the stems. This encourages more root growth and protects the developing tubers from light (which can turn them green and toxic) while providing more space for expansion deep within the soil.

Historical Giants and The Future of the Record

While Glazebrook's 4.98 kg marvel is the current titleholder, the history of giant potatoes is filled with claims and near-misses. Before the 2011 record, the title was often held by other British growers, with records fluctuating between 7 and 11 pounds in the 1950s and 1980s. The current record is a testament to the dedication of growers in the giant vegetable circuit.

The saga of Doug the gourd tuber serves as a permanent reminder of the challenges in verifying these records. The line between a potato, a sweet potato, a yam, or another type of massive storage tuber can be blurry to the untrained eye, but the DNA test is the final arbiter. This strict verification process ensures that when the next true potato record is set, it will be an undeniable member of the *Solanum tuberosum* species.

The spirit of competition among giant vegetable enthusiasts remains strong. Every year, growers around the world plant their largest seed spuds, hoping for the perfect combination of soil, weather, and luck to produce the next world-beater. The record is an invitation—a challenge to all gardeners to push the limits of what a simple, humble potato can become.