WARREN, R.I. – Despite heavy rains that stunted pumpkin growth, a Rhode Island farmer has set what could be a new record for the largest pumpkin in the world.
Ron Wallace’s pumpkin weighed 1,502 pounds at Saturday’s contest, heavier than the current Guinness World Record-holding 1,469-pound pumpkin grown last year by Larry Checkon of Pennsylvania.
Wallace said at the Rhode Island Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Championship that the key to growing a giant pumpkin is the ability to commit to the task from April to October.
“Pumpkin growing is a lot of work and you just have to stick with it,” he said.
It is also weather-dependent.
Agriculture officials say heavy rain this season has damaged or stunted the crop of many competitive growers of giant pumpkins.
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