Hampshire grower Ian Paton says American friend has broken his 1.2-tonne pumpkin world record

Speaking on GB News, Ian Paton, a 65-year-old grower from Hampshire, discussed Bagheera, a pumpkin weighing more than 1.2 tonnes, or nearly 1,300 kilograms. He said it grew from the size of a golf ball in about 120 days and was named after the tiger in The Jungle Book.

GB News reported that Paton spent six hours a day tending the pumpkin and gave it around 130 gallons of water during the summer heat. The broadcast said the pumpkin was displayed at Sunnyfields Farm in Southampton before it was used as cattle feed.

Paton told GB News that he had lost the world record to a dear friend in America. He said the loss was upsetting and that he wanted to collect the seeds for future grows.

On GB News, Paton described growing the pumpkins in a special greenhouse with shading, automatic watering, heating and extra carbon dioxide. He said he grows six plants and that they can put on around 700 pounds in 10 days.

He told the channel that the giant pumpkin community stretches from Australia and South Africa to Alaska, and he called it the friendliest sport in the world. He said growers share seeds and advice.

Paton also said he had previously held a world record for the biggest circumference of a pumpkin but regarded weight as the only measure that mattered. He advised beginners to start with giant field pumpkins rather than Halloween varieties.