Story perspectives

Ron Wallace Breaks U.S. Heaviest Pumpkin Record at 1,432kg

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 2:47 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ron Wallace grew a 1,432 kg pumpkin, breaking the U.S. heaviest-pumpkin record.
The pumpkin exceeds the prior 1,296 kg record by about 136 kg.
Guinness officials say the weight is on track for official world-record verification.
Wallace earned $3,500 for winning the New England competition and declined a $70,000 prize elsewhere.
He grew the pumpkin in a greenhouse, noting the method makes a huge difference.

History

Historical Context

In 2012, Italian farmer Stefano Cutrupi of Italy set a Guinness World Record by growing a 1,190-kilogram pumpkin, eclipsing previous attempts. The record, verified by Guinness, surpassed the prior 1,150-kg benchmark by 40 kg and attracted €5 million media attention worldwide. Today, American grower Ron Wallace’s 1,432-kg greenhouse pumpkin mirrors Cutrupi’s achievement, again highlighting greenhouse techniques and the New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Association’s $3,500 prize. These escalating sizes pressure show organizers to boost prize pools, spur horticultural-engineering research, and cement giant-pumpkin contests as a lucrative niche market.

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Story summary

Ron Wallace grew a 1,432 kg pumpkin, breaking the U.S. heaviest-pumpkin record.
The pumpkin exceeds the prior 1,296 kg record by about 136 kg.
Guinness officials say the weight is on track for official world-record verification.
Wallace earned $3,500 for winning the New England competition and declined a $70,000 prize elsewhere.
He grew the pumpkin in a greenhouse, noting the method makes a huge difference.

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