I grew a 188 stone British-record breaking monster pumpkin in three months - people ask if it’s real

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Watch as Ian and Stuart’s 188 stone monster pumpkin is lifted by a telehandler onto scales and weighed - breaking a British record.

A monster pumpkin weighing more than a tonne has broken a British record and was so big a telehandler was needed to winch it onto scales at a country show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton, 63, spent three hours a day for three months cultivating the gigantic 188 stone (1198.2kg) squash in Lymington, Hampshire. They then "very carefully" drove four-and-a-half hours to the Malvern Autumn Show on September 26 in a bid for it to be crowned the "world's heaviest pumpkin".

Unfortunately, they fell just short of the world record 1,247kg, but were delighted to set a new British record with their creation which weighs the same as a small car.

The monster pumpkin is transported to the scales.The monster pumpkin is transported to the scales.
The monster pumpkin is transported to the scales. | Emma Trimble / SWNS

Ian said: "We put the seeds down in April and then pollinate in June, they are quite fast growing and this one is 113 days old.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We drove it up in the back of a large Volvo very carefully, staying at around 50mph. You get some strange looks from other drivers, that's for sure. Some people pull over further up the road and then follow you again just to get another look. They shout 'is that real?' and we shout back 'yep'.”

Thousands of people are expected to flock to the Worcestershire town to catch a glimpse of some gigantic greens from September 27 (Friday) and over the weekend.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Leeds news you can trust since 1890
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice