Doug the ugly New Zealand potato could be worlds biggest – NBC2 News

WELLINGTON, New Zealand [AP] A New Zealand couple were weeding their garden when Colin Craig-Browns gardening tool hit something huge just beneath the soils surface.

As Colin and Donna Craig-Brown knelt down and began digging around the object, Colin wondered if it was some kind of strange fungal growth, a giant puffball, the AP reported. After Colin pried it out with his garden fork, he scratched away a bit of the skin and tasted it.

A potato.

We couldnt believe it, Donna said. It was just huge.

Donna describes the potato as more of an ugly, mutant look.

According to the Associated Press, it is quite possibly the biggest potato on record. When the couple lugged it into their garage and set it on their old set of scales, it weighed in at 17.4 pounds. Thats equal to a couple of sacks of regular potatoes or a small dog.

In the weeks since their unusual find on Aug. 30, the couples potato has become something of a celebrity around their small farm near Hamilton. The potato has been named Doug, after the way it was unearthed. Colin even built a small cart to tow Doug around, AP said.

We put a hat on him. We put him on Facebook, taking him for a walk, giving him some sunshine, Colin said. Its all a bit of fun. Its amazing what entertains people.

The couple said theyve applied to Guinness to have Doug recognized and are waiting to hear back.

Colin said there are no secret gardening tips they use. They usually throw a bunch of cow manure and straw onto their garden and see what happens. He said theyd been growing cucumbers in that area of their garden before the weeds took over and hadnt planted any potatoes. Doug must have been self-sown and quite possibly growing for a couple of years or more.

Its a mystery to me, Colin said. Its one of natures little pleasant surprises.

As the Craig-Browns showed the potato off, it began drying out, losing weight, and mold started growing from its wounds.

He was getting a bit pongy, said Colin, referring to the potatos smell.

So Colin cleaned up Doug as best he could and put the potato in the freezer, where it remains, the AP reported.

However, Colin may not be done with Doug yet. An amateur brewer, Colin said hes keen to turn Doug into a nice drop of potato vodka.

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Doug the ugly New Zealand potato could be worlds biggest - NBC2 News