Cultivated by Ian Paton, it required six hours of care per day. The record may have already been surpassed by an American specimen.
A giant pumpkin nicknamed Bagheera has won the UK Guinness World Record for the heaviest vegetable. The specimen, presented by grower Ian Paton during a weigh-off near Reading, Berkshire, reached an official weight of 1,295.8 kilograms. The record was certified under the supervision of a Guinness World Records judge.
Despite the record, Bagheera may soon lose the title. Overseas, in Greene, Rhode Island, grower Ron Wallace presented a pumpkin weighing 1,432 kilograms, awaiting official validation. This specimen would surpass Paton's newly set record by 136 kilograms. Meanwhile, Bagheera was displayed in a scenic installation at a farm near Southampton before being destined to become feed for cows.
The cultivation of giant pumpkins is a competitive practice that sees enthusiasts from all over the world challenge each other to produce the heaviest vegetable. This tradition, which has lasted for decades, has seen progressive improvements in cultivation techniques and genetic selection. British grower Ian Paton has dedicated over 50 years to this passion, often alongside his twin brother Stuart, before deciding to compete alone.
The journey to achieve such weight is extremely demanding. To grow Bagheera, Paton devoted six hours of daily care and used about 490 liters of water per day to counter an exceptional heatwave. International competitions like the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California offer substantial cash prizes, encouraging the pursuit of increasingly extreme results. The current world record is held by Italian Stefano Cutrupi, who in 2021 in Peccioli, Tuscany, presented a pumpkin weighing 1,226 kilograms.
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