Smashing Pumpkins!
Adjacent to Mr Evergreen in Lymington are Karl’s good friends at Pinetops Nursery and twins Ian and Stuart Paton who run Pinetops broke their own U.K. record for growing the largest ever pumpkin! With the help of Mr Evergreen’s Scott Mackenzie, their contender was hoisted onto special scales at their own private weigh-in event in October to face a panel of three independent judges. Weighing in at a whopping 2,593.7lb / 185-stone, with a circumference of about 20ft, they smashed their own previous U.K. title of 2,433lb! This exciting weigh-in was just 31lb shy of the world record, but it’s a new British record and they are 2020 Champions. The brothers have grown and cultivated pumpkins since they were young boys and are looking forward to smashing the coveted world record one day soon.
This prize pumpkin grew an astonishing average of 51lb a day for 21 days by the end, requiring about six hours a day personal attention from the men. The pair already held the U.K. record for their 2,433lb pumpkin which they grew in their nursery in 2018. Speaking after the weigh-in Ian said, ‘I first grew a pumpkin aged about 11 and it weighed 56lb. Now ours grow that much in a day, they’re incredible beasts.’
Their champion pumpkin will be displayed in the Old Covent Garden in London leading up to Halloween 2020, after which it will travel to raise money for charity. Keep checking back for more news and updates.