In brief
Horticulture teacher Travis Gienger has claimed five national giant pumpkin titles, most recently lifting a 2,389‑pound gourd at a California contest. He says he would love to break the world record again and is already eyeing the 2,857‑pound pumpkin that topped the marks in England this week. Gienger, who holds the record himself, plans to return to the state’s biggest pumpkin‑weighing event and bring new training techniques to boost his next entry. The record battle is set to bring a new level of intensity to the annual competition, with fans and other growers watching closely.
Travis Gienger, five‑time champion, sights the world record
Horticulture teacher Travis Gienger, who hauled his hefty 2,389‑pound pumpkin from Minnesota to Half Moon Bay, California, just won yet another national title.
Gienger admitted in a BBC interview that he would love to break the world record again. He was the man who set that record last year, lifting a 2,857‑pound gourd on England’s south coast. The current mark stands as a tough target.
He says his strategy will involve better nutrition for the plant, more precise watering schedules, and sturdy framing for the final weigh‑in. “It’s a challenge, but it’s also a lot of fun,” he says.
The annual contest attracts dozens of growers from around the world, and fans are already speculating whether Gienger will rise to the occasion once more. The next event will see him traveling back to the same venue to defend his title.
Fans and fellow growers expect a thrill‑filled showdown, as the record for the heaviest pumpkin is hotly contested. Gienger’s determination to go beyond his previous win adds a fresh narrative to the sport of giant‑pumpkin growing.
