A Rhode Island farmer has set a new world record with a giant pumpkin weighing 3,156 pounds, becoming the first person to grow a pumpkin that exceeds the 3,000-pound mark. Guinness World Records has officially recognized Ron Wallace’s achievement following a weigh-off in Warren, Rhode Island, on October 10, 2026.
Wallace’s pumpkin weighed 1,431.5 kilograms and was measured at the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Frerichs Farm. Officials from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth verified the weight, which surpassed the previous world record by nearly 300 pounds.
Record-Breaking Pumpkin Weighs 3,156 Pounds
The record-setting pumpkin weighs 3,156 pounds, making it the heaviest pumpkin officially recorded to date. The achievement marks a significant milestone in competitive giant-pumpkin growing, a field in which growers use careful cultivation techniques to produce exceptionally large fruit.
According to Guinness World Records, Wallace’s pumpkin was grown from a 2731 Stelts 2024 seed. Its verified weight places it well ahead of the previous record of 2,856 pounds, which British grower Ian Paton set on October 3, 2026, at a competition in Berkshire, England.
The latest achievement means the world record changed hands twice within just one week. Paton’s pumpkin, named Bagheera, had briefly held the title before Wallace’s larger entry surpassed it at the Rhode Island competition.
Greenhouse Growing Helped Wallace Achieve the Record
Wallace said his record-breaking pumpkin was the first he had grown inside a greenhouse. According to Guinness World Records, he also benefited from favorable weather conditions during much of the growing season.
Growing a giant pumpkin requires sustained attention to plant health, growing conditions and fruit development. Experienced growers carefully manage the environment to support the plant as the pumpkin increases in size. Wallace’s latest result demonstrates how cultivation techniques and favorable conditions can contribute to record-breaking growth.
Wallace Previously Set Pumpkin Records in 2006 and 2012
The latest achievement is not Wallace’s first appearance in the record books. In 2006, he grew a pumpkin weighing 1,502 pounds, becoming the first grower to produce a pumpkin exceeding that weight threshold.
He returned to the record books in 2012 with a 2,009-pound pumpkin, becoming the first person to grow one weighing more than 2,000 pounds. His 2026 achievement extends that history, making this his third time holding the world record for the heaviest pumpkin.
What the New World Record Means
Wallace’s 3,156-pound pumpkin represents a new benchmark for giant-pumpkin cultivation. Crossing the 3,000-pound threshold highlights how far competitive growing has progressed and gives other growers a new target to pursue in future competitions.
The record also underscores the rapid pace of change in the sport. Paton’s record-breaking pumpkin had held the title for only about a week before Wallace surpassed it with a pumpkin nearly 300 pounds heavier.
As of October 16, 2026, Guinness World Records lists Wallace’s 3,156-pound pumpkin as the heaviest pumpkin in the world. His achievement adds another milestone to the history of giant-pumpkin growing and places Rhode Island at the center of this year’s record-breaking competition.