When the chips are down, High Blantyre man David Crawford knew what growing potatoes was all about – as the “Chieftain” of the tattie race shows!
By October 1977, the 69-year-old retired headmaster dug this whopper, measuring a foot long and weighing 3lbs. 12ozs., from his garden at the Schoolhouse, Hunthill Road. Appropriately enough this variety is called “Chieftain” and this outsize specimen had left David with a few headaches.
He told reporters at the time, “I quite fancy the idea of having chips a foot long – but how I’m going to get them into the pan is another question,” he said laughingly.
“It might be a better idea to have it stuffed and put it on display above the fireplace.”
David was no newcomer to gardening. He had been an enthusiast since he was a boy and during the 1970’s, won two award cups for growing his sweet peas.
“Last year I grew two potatoes each weighing 2 +lbs.,” he said. “I thought they were outsize, but this one has really surprised me.”
He explained that the Chieftain variety were well known for their keeping qualities, but normally they didn’t grow to this size. And as for his secret? He told reporters that he didn’t have one and that the answer probably lies in the soil! However, I suspect to consistently grow potatoes this size, Davie did probably have a gardening secret or two!
What’s your memories of head teacher Mr Crawford?
