Man Reclaims World Record with Pumpkin Weighing Over 3,000 Lbs.: ‘This One Feels a Bit More Special’

0Ron Wallace and his massive pumpkinCredit: Guinness World RecordsThe first time Ron Wallace, 60, held the record was in 2006, when his pumpkin weighed in at 1,502 lbs.NEED TO KNOWRhode Island grower Ron Wallace has now held the heavyweight title three times since 2006

His 3,156-lb. pumpkin is the first to ever to surpass the 3,000-lb. mark

“I love the networking with the growers and the science behind pushing these to higher weights,” Wallace said

A Rhode Island man just landed a Guinness World Record title for heaviest pumpkin ever grown.

This year marks the third time Ron Wallace, 60, an online gardening supply retailer, has held the heavyweight pumpkin title, according to the record-keeping organization.

The first time Wallace held the record was in 2006, when his pumpkin weighed in at 1,502 lbs. Later in 2012, another one of his pumpkins broke the record after weighing in at 2,009 lbs.

“I love the networking with the growers and the science behind pushing these to higher weights,” Wallace said in a statement following his latest achievement on Oct. 10.

Weighing in at 3,156 lbs., Wallace’s pumpkin — which would be able to make more than 3,000 Thanksgiving pies — is also the first in history to surpass the 3,000-lb threshold.

“[My two previous world records] were both historic accomplishments at the time but this one feels a bit more special,” he added. “I had a few off growing years as I was taking a more scientific approach. It felt great to see it all come together!”

Another impressive thing to note about Wallace’s feat? It marked the second time the record was broken that week.

“Having this category change hands so quickly is almost unheard of – the only occasion that comes close in the GWR archives,” officials wrote in a statement, “is when the record was set twice in the same day on 2 October 1999 (first in the UK, and then again bested in the USA).

On Oct. 3, a pumpkin grown across the pond by Ian Paton weighed in at over 2,856 lbs., which as officials noted, is heavier than a white rhino.

Interestingly enough, Ian actually beat a record that he held with his twin brother Stuart.

“There was a lot more work to do as I was on my own – up to six hours a day in the patch for two months – but I got through it,” Ian told Guinness World Records about his solo effort.

Although Paton and his brother Stuart don’t hold the heavyweight title anymore, the brotherly duo’s pumpkin still remains the largest by circumference, measuring in at 21 ft., 3.8 inches, according to a statement from Guinness World Records.

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As for the future, Wallace said that while he’s thinking about taking next year off, when it comes to pushing the envelope of pumpkin growing, he can never say never.

“It will be a busy off season with seminars and requests and that takes a lot of time away from getting ready for the next season,” he told the record-keeping organization, before adding, “We will see…”