Ian Paton breaks his own world record with 1,295.8kg pumpkin 'Bagheera' at Wargrave weigh-off

The heaviest pumpkin ever recorded has grown again. British grower Ian Paton's pumpkin, named Bagheera, tipped the scales at 1,295.8kg (2,856lb 12.8oz) at the Wargrave Nursery giant vegetable weigh-off in Berkshire, England, and Guinness World Records now lists it as the heaviest pumpkin on record. The new mark beats the record Paton set with his twin brother Stuart last year by roughly 17kg, and the news spread worldwide this week as the pumpkin went on public display.

A record beaten by its own holder

Bagheera was presented on 3 October 2026 at the Wargrave event in Berkshire, according to the Guinness World Records listing. The previous heaviest pumpkin, a giant called Muggle grown by Ian and Stuart Paton, weighed 2,819.25lb in 2025. That means the new pumpkin is about 37.5lb (around 17kg) heavier.

Before the Patons took over the top spot, the record belonged to American grower Travis Gienger, whose 2,749lb pumpkin was weighed at the Half Moon Bay contest in California in 2023. The record has been rising steadily as growers refine their seed lines and growing methods.

How a pumpkin reaches 1.3 tonnes

The 65-year-old Paton, from Lymington in Hampshire, grew Bagheera on his own this season at a nursery in the New Forest. He told the BBC, as reported by several outlets, that the plant needed a special germination process, carefully guarded seeds and about six hours of hands-on work every day.

At its peak the pumpkin was reportedly drinking about 130 gallons of water a day. The biggest giant pumpkins can put on as much as 50lb in a single day during the main growing period, which is why serious growers watch the weather, soil and water supply so closely through the British summer.

For context, a weight of almost 1.3 tonnes is roughly the same as a small family car. Moving a fruit of that size takes lifting straps, a forklift and a pallet, and simply getting it to the scales without splitting the skin is a challenge in itself.

What happens to Bagheera now

After weighing, the pumpkin was put on show at Sunnyfields farm near Southampton, where visitors can see it before Halloween. Reports say it will eventually be broken up and used as cattle feed, a common end for show pumpkins that are far too large and tough to eat.

Why giant vegetable records draw a crowd

Giant pumpkin weigh-offs are a small but competitive world. Growers trade seeds from proven champion plants, and many of the biggest contests take place in Britain, Europe and North America each October. The Paton brothers have been regulars for years, and Ian's latest result means he now holds the record twice in two seasons. More weigh-offs are still to come this month, so the record watchers will keep an eye on the scales, but for now Bagheera is the benchmark.

Key takeaways

• Ian Paton's pumpkin Bagheera weighed 1,295.8kg (2,856lb 12.8oz) at the Wargrave weigh-off on 3 October 2026.
• Guinness World Records lists it as the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded.
• It beats the 2,819.25lb record set by Ian and Stuart Paton's pumpkin Muggle in 2025.
• Paton reportedly spent around six hours a day caring for the plant.
• The pumpkin is on display near Southampton and is expected to become cattle feed afterwards.

FAQ

How heavy is the world's heaviest pumpkin? Ian Paton's Bagheera weighed 1,295.8kg, or 2,856lb 12.8oz, at Wargrave in Berkshire on 3 October 2026.

Who held the record before? Ian Paton and his twin brother Stuart, whose pumpkin Muggle weighed 2,819.25lb in 2025. Before them, Travis Gienger's 2,749lb pumpkin from 2023 held the mark.

Where can people see the record pumpkin? It has been displayed at Sunnyfields farm near Southampton, England, according to reports this week.

Sources: Guinness World Records, KQ98, BroBible