Allotment owners’ giant pumpkin is ‘heavier than three baby elephants’
Couple in Surrey plan to enter 390kg vegetable into national championship
A couple have grown a giant pumpkin that is heavier than three baby elephants.
Justin Griffiths and Kay Walker, from Ashtead in Surrey, grew the pumpkin on their allotment plot at the Leatherhead Poors Allotments.
They have estimated that it weighs more than 390kg (860lbs). Baby elephants, by contrast, weigh between 90kg (200lbs) and 136kg (300lb).
The couple also used to grow carrots and potatoes, but Mr Griffiths said that “the pumpkins have got so big they’ve pretty much taken over everything”.
Ms Walker told the BBC it was “unbelievable” that the Atlantic Giant pumpkins had grown so big. She said: “It’s shocked us,” adding: “It’s going to be bigger and better every year.”
The pair plan to take the pumpkin to the UK National Giant Vegetables Championship at the Malvern Autumn Show later in September.
Mr Griffiths said the couple need to come up with a plan to move the pumpkin at the end of the month, which may include either using an engine crane or “lots of people with tarpaulin”.
The heaviest pumpkin was weighed in California in 2023, coming in at 1,246.9kg (2,749lbs), according to the Guinness World Records.
The couple have also estimated that a second giant pumpkin on their plot weighs 250kg (560lbs).
[Source: Daily Telegraph]
