Jeremy brua
Senior Member
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:41 pm
Location: Western Pa.

Heirloom potatos

I am wondering if anyone knows where I can find a certain kind of potato. It is called a gilky, neshannock, mercer, or shenango. They were "made" only a few miles from where I grew up and I would love to grow them.

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rainbowgardener
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Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

You made me curious, so I did a little searching. Found a lot of interesting history about them but no sources.

This historical reference:

https://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-12E

says

With the introduction of new, more productive varieties in the late nineteenth century, the Neshannock gradually fell out of favor. But for much of the 1800s, Pennsylvania's Neshannock potato helped to feed the nation.

How old are you, anyway? :)

Jeremy brua
Senior Member
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:41 pm
Location: Western Pa.

I'm only 29, my father brought it up the other day snd it got me interested. He wants to start a small potato farm and I thought it would be great if I could find them. Last year they started a potato festivel not far from me to celabrate the Gilky and other potatos.



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