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I have found myself in a reflective mood today and since no one wants to listen to my stories about a potato, I searched out this site to bore some more people, I appologise if this seems long winded etc.
The "Mr Little" part of your favourite potato (ok, some of you) refers to my Grandfather, well step-Grandfather but he was always Grandpa to me, Matt Little and his brother Jeff both from around the Yetholm area of the Scottish borders.
This is my account of the ressurection of the Yetholm Gypsy as told to me by my Grandpa. Jeff Little's story, though sharing the main points, will have extra details from his garden but that account belongs to his son Stephen Little.
The brothers originally grew the potatos in the Yetholm area when the variety was still grown locally and simply known as Yetholm gypsy potatos. Over time the variety became less used until the point came where they were literally thought to be extinct. Not a single grower was known to have a plant, a few years later my Grandfather found a "rouge" potato at the back of a drystane dyke in his garden, the tubers were replanted the following year and the Gypsy was back.
The subsequent seed were shared between the brothers and each continued to grow them for their own use knowing it was special but not realising just how rare they were.
It was at a potato fair in Galashiels 1998 that the brothers attended together, buying a few varieties to try, that my Grandfather saw a Blue potato and whilst talking to the seller (Alan Roman ? not 100% sure) stated "thats nothing I've a potato thats red, white and blue!", to start with this was met with laughter until the gentleman realised my grandfather wasn't bluffing and got quite excited. Asking if my Grandpa would send him one he was told "no, I'll send you half of one, that bugger over there" (reffering to another seller) "would only sell me half a potato so you can get the same!"
I think he did send a whole potato in the end and it was cleaned of disease etc at Edinburgh. The brothers recieved clean seed of the gypsy afterward and continued to grow them, I was seen to be trustworthy enough to be given five of the original seed to grow in my garden under condition I gave half the crop back to my Grandpa as
seed.
Very sadly Jeff died in 2000 and to give recognition to the brothers the potato was to be named "Mr Little's Yetholm Gypsy". It was 8 years later that my Grandfather died as did many of the stories I wish I could recall.
I must admit, whenever I happen upon the potato being discussed or praised it does bring a smile to my face, not a bad legacy really.
The "Mr Little" part of your favourite potato (ok, some of you) refers to my Grandfather, well step-Grandfather but he was always Grandpa to me, Matt Little and his brother Jeff both from around the Yetholm area of the Scottish borders.
This is my account of the ressurection of the Yetholm Gypsy as told to me by my Grandpa. Jeff Little's story, though sharing the main points, will have extra details from his garden but that account belongs to his son Stephen Little.
The brothers originally grew the potatos in the Yetholm area when the variety was still grown locally and simply known as Yetholm gypsy potatos. Over time the variety became less used until the point came where they were literally thought to be extinct. Not a single grower was known to have a plant, a few years later my Grandfather found a "rouge" potato at the back of a drystane dyke in his garden, the tubers were replanted the following year and the Gypsy was back.
The subsequent seed were shared between the brothers and each continued to grow them for their own use knowing it was special but not realising just how rare they were.
It was at a potato fair in Galashiels 1998 that the brothers attended together, buying a few varieties to try, that my Grandfather saw a Blue potato and whilst talking to the seller (Alan Roman ? not 100% sure) stated "thats nothing I've a potato thats red, white and blue!", to start with this was met with laughter until the gentleman realised my grandfather wasn't bluffing and got quite excited. Asking if my Grandpa would send him one he was told "no, I'll send you half of one, that bugger over there" (reffering to another seller) "would only sell me half a potato so you can get the same!"
I think he did send a whole potato in the end and it was cleaned of disease etc at Edinburgh. The brothers recieved clean seed of the gypsy afterward and continued to grow them, I was seen to be trustworthy enough to be given five of the original seed to grow in my garden under condition I gave half the crop back to my Grandpa as
seed.
Very sadly Jeff died in 2000 and to give recognition to the brothers the potato was to be named "Mr Little's Yetholm Gypsy". It was 8 years later that my Grandfather died as did many of the stories I wish I could recall.
I must admit, whenever I happen upon the potato being discussed or praised it does bring a smile to my face, not a bad legacy really.
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