On October 9, 2023, Travis Gienger from Anoka, Minnesota, set the world record for the heaviest pumpkin, weighing 2749 pounds. The record was previously held by Stefano Cutrupi with a pumpkin weighing 2708.8 lbs. Gienger had already established the U.S. record in the previous year with a 2560-pounder and in 2020 with one weighing 2350 pounds.
A captivating photo captures Gienger’s jubilation as he celebrates his victory at the 50th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco. Dressed in an orange long-sleeve shirt and matching shoes, he raised a triumphant fist in the air before a cheering crowd of spectators and photographers.
In addition to the pride of the accomplishment, Gienger earned $9 per pound (totaling $24,741) and a special $30,000 “mega prize” for breaking the new world record, as announced by contest officials.
Gienger surpassed the previous world record by an impressive 47 pounds, achieved by diligently tending to the pumpkin he grew in his backyard. He revealed to the news outlet that he provided his seeds with extra care this year, applying additional fertilizer and watering them as many as a dozen times a day.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see each pumpkin record by country, state, or province in the region. 20 new giant pumpkin records from around the world have been identified in 2023.
Growing these huge pumpkins takes a lot of time and effort. The majority of pumpkin growers fail in the process. Some key factors in growing a big gourd are the seed, watering, burying the vine node, and removing other pumpkins from the plant. When selecting a seed, it is important to understand the genetics passed on to the seed. Knowing the parents of a pumpkin seed can help you
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