• By Francesca Rilotelli
• Published 01/16/2013

It’s got to that time of year where the weather is starting to bite, and all you want to do is sit in front of the telly clutching a massive, steaming bowl of leek and potato soup.

Well, luckily for everyone, it looks like the humble potato isn’t going anywhere just yet – in fact, it looks like they’re taking over the world! Amateur gardener Peter Glazebrook recently grew what he claims to be the heaviest potato in the world.

The 8lb 4oz (3.8kg) spud was in the giant vegetable competition at the National Gardening Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset back in 2010.

Glazebrook, from Nottinghamshire, said he had been trying to grow heavy potatoes for about 10 years.

He believes his prize specimen is 9oz (255g) heavier than the previous record holder.

In 2008, a Lebanese farmer claimed he had dug up a 24.9lb (11.3kg) potato. It is not clear whether the find entered the record books.

The world record in the Guinness Book of Records was 7lb 13oz (3.5kg) at the time.

The biggest pumpkin grown by an amateur in the UK, weighing 1210 lb (548.8kg), was also on show.

Other giant vegetables at the event, which ends on Sunday, include huge marrows and a 17ft (5.18m) long carrot.

Mr Glazebrook, who is awaiting verification from Guinness World Records, explained the secret of his success.

He said: “I’ve been trying to grow these large for about 10 years and this is the largest I’ve managed.

“It needs a long growing season to get as large as possible.

“The variety is important, this is Kondor. It was a commercial variety once upon a time.

“It certainly grows large if you give it the right nourishment.”

I’d say that was a bit of an understatement to be honest, Peter!

About the Author : Francesca Rilotelli is writing about Leek and potato soup