Hamphire, UK: Pumpkin lovers, Ian and Stuart Paton, have broken their own previous record by raising a 1,205 kg (2,656 pounds) monstrous pumpkin in their farms. The twins’ new specimen weighs 28.57 kg (63 pounds) more than the 1176.16 kg (2,593 pounds) pumpkin they raised in 2020.
The twins who are 61, fell only 21.31 kg (47 pounds) short of setting a new world record. However, the brothers still have one remaining “monster” in the patch, which will be weighed the following week.
Their enormous pumpkin can be seen in pictures along with Polly and Etta, Ian’s adorable twin granddaughters who are just one year old. The two Lymington residents tend to the squash for at least six hours each day.
The twins discovered they had set a new UK record when they weighed their enormous gourd at Wargrave Nursery in Reading, Berks.
To give themselves the best opportunity, they produce several giant pumpkins, but last week they experienced a blow when they lost their biggest one. After their largest fruit developed a “pin hole” in its cavity, the brothers were concerned they might not break the record, Ian said.
The two are still hoping to break the world record, which was achieved in 2021 by Tuscan farmer Stefano Cutrupi, who succeeded in growing a 1226.06 kg (2,703 pounds) pumpkin after 14 years of attempting it.
We’re thrilled to have broken our UK record, we’ve worked very hard on this, added Ian.