Giant Pumpkin Weighing Over 1.4 Tons Grown in U.S., Set to Break Guinness World Record
"First year growing pumpkins in a greenhouse... made a big difference in size"
A pumpkin grown in Rhode Island, U.S., weighed more than 1.4 metric tons and is expected to be listed in Guinness World Records.
According to the Associated Press on October 12 local time, Ron Wallace, who lives in Greene, Rhode Island, entered an enormous pumpkin he had grown in a pumpkin weigh-off held in New England on October 10.
The pumpkin weighed about 1,432 kilograms. That is about 136 kilograms heavier than the existing world record of 1,296 kilograms. The previous record was set on October 3 by Ian Paton, who lives in Leamington, England. Wallace said he has been in contact with Guinness World Records officials and was told the record is likely to be officially recognized.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press, he said, "It was really enormous, and I enjoyed growing it." Wallace, who took up pumpkin growing as a hobby after starting an online gardening supplies business, received $3,500 (about KRW 4.67 million) in prize money at the competition.
Wallace said organizers of another competition had encouraged him to participate by offering a prize of up to $70,000 (about KRW 93.5 million), but he chose this competition because setting a record alongside people from his hometown was more important.
He cited help from those around him and greenhouse cultivation as the secrets to growing an enormous pumpkin. Wallace said, "I owe a great deal to the pumpkin-growing community, which generously shares tips and techniques for growing the biggest pumpkins," adding, "This year, I started growing pumpkins in a greenhouse for the first time, and it made a big difference."
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Meanwhile, at a pumpkin weigh-off held in California on the same day, a pumpkin entered by Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Minnesota, won with a weight of 1,083 kilograms. At the competition, which has been held for more than 60 years, Gienger claimed his fifth victory and received $21,501 (about KRW 28.7 million) in prize money.
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