“An American teacher from Minnesota has set a record for growing the world’s heaviest pumpkin, weighing 1,247 kilograms. Travis Gienger was crowned the winner of the 50th World Pumpkin Weighing Championship in Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday,” the
VOA News says.

“Gienger is a teacher at Anoka Technical College in Anoka, Minnesota. He teaches agriculture and growing techniques and has been producing pumpkins for nearly 30 years. Gienger says his father also grew pumpkins and that sparked his interest.

“Gienger, who grows the pumpkins on his own property, said he decided to give his plants some special care this year. That includes watering them up to 12 times a day and giving them a little more food or fertilizer than usual.”

“The heaviest pumpkin weighed 2,749 pounds (1,246.9 kilograms) when presented by Travis Gienger (USA) at the 50th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on October 9, 2023 in Half Moon Bay, California, USA. The record was confirmed by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth,” the
Guinness World Records says.

“Horticulture teacher Gienger is no stranger to the record books with his pumpkins. He has grown several giants that were later transformed into record-breaking jack-o-lanterns. Most recently, in 2022, his 2,600-pound pumpkin named “Maverick” was transformed into an eagle-themed jack-o-lantern by carver Mike Rudolph (USA); it had a record circumference of 242 inches (20 feet 2 inches; 614.7 cm).”

“A Minnesota man won his third pumpkin weighing competition in Half Moon Bay and took home $30,000 in prize money, officials said. Travis Gienger crushed the competition at the 50th annual World Pumpkin Weighing Championship with a pumpkin weighing 2,749 pounds, breaking a world record,” the
ABC Chicago says.

“Gienger has already won in 2022 and 2020. Last year’s pumpkin weighed 2,560 pounds and his 2020 pumpkin weighed 2,350 pounds. The annual competition featured pumpkins the size of Volkswagens on display in the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world.

“Growers of all ages from across the United States were in Half Moon Bay hoping to take home the world title at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. They competed not only for bragging rights over their accomplishment, but also for a gigantic payout of $9 per pound.”

“In addition to the pride, Gienger won $9 per pound ($24,741) as well as a special ‘mega prize’ of $30,000 for the new world record pumpkin, competition officials said,” said the
USA Today says.

“Pride aside, Gienger won $9 per pound ($24,741) plus a special “mega prize” of $30,000 for the new world-record pumpkin, contest officials said. Gienger set the new world record by making the pumpkin he grew in his garden 47 pounds heavier, the AP reported.

“The grower told the news agency he decided to give his seeds extra care when growing them this year, adding extra fertilizer and watering them sometimes a dozen times a day.”

“Gienger grows his pumpkins in his backyard, “right outside in Minnesota, with all the weather and the storms and all that,” he tells Alex Chhith of the Star Tribune. To grow his 2023 behemoth, “I basically just improved on what I was doing before and used better fertilizer and better biology,” he adds. He also used a new seed variety called 2365 Wolf, which is known for producing large pumpkins,” the
Smithsonian Magazine says.

“This year’s award-winning pumpkin earned its nickname thanks to its perfectly round appearance, reminiscent of a basketball when it was 10 days old, MPR writes. While it has by no means retained that round appearance, it makes up for its less-than-perfect shape with its impressive stature. The gigantic pumpkin could be used to make at least 687 pies, according to the AP.”

“This pumpkin is called Michael Jordan because it’s the year (20)23 … and he’s the greatest basketball player of all time,” Gienger told KSTP-TV in Minnesota. (Jordan’s jersey number was 23.) It “started out basketball-round, and I said, this is going to be a perfectly round basketball-shaped pumpkin,” Gienger said.
The Guardian reports.

“Gienger spent about $15,000 feeding and caring for Michael Jordan while the pumpkin bloated in his backyard, carefully driving it from Minnesota to California last weekend, SFGate reports.

“The 43-year-old landscape and horticulture teacher at Anoka Technical College has been growing pumpkins since he was a teenager, continuing a family tradition. He has won three of the last four pumpkin weighing contests. This year he won $30,000 and the equivalent of a Super Bowl ring designed by a local jeweler. He told SFGate he plans to invest the winnings in growing an even bigger pumpkin next year.”

“A Minnesota horticulture teacher set a world record for the heaviest pumpkin in California after growing a giant pumpkin weighing 2,749 pounds,” the
NBC News reports.

“Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota, won the 50th World Pumpkin Weighing Championship in Half Moon Bay, California, with a giant, lumpy, orange pumpkin that could be used to make at least 687 pies.

“Gienger grows his pumpkins in the pumpkin patch in his backyard. He said this year he decided to give his plants extra care, watering them up to 12 times a day and fertilizing and feeding them a little more than usual.”

“You are looking at the ‘Holy Grail’ of pumpkin seeds. The 2,749-pound world record pumpkin is a pumpkin for the history books. After 10 years in climate-controlled greenhouses overseas, the WR is finally back in the States and available! Grown outdoors in the harsh elements of Minnesota, this pumpkin can handle the conditions,” said the
Global giant growers says.

“At over 21 feet in circumference and weighing 14%, these genetics are sure to produce some monster pumpkins. This world record pumpkin was crossed with another 2365 that would have been even bigger had it not gone down at 2,222 pounds on August 17th.

“The pumpkin was still growing at 43 pounds per day and had a nice, tall shape. Very limited quantities are available, so get it while it lasts because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever! New for January 18th, comes in its own custom carrying case.”