A giant pumpkin weighing 1,295.8 kg has earned a UK grower a Guinness World Record, becoming the heaviest pumpkin in the world.

Ian Paton, a plant nursery owner and pumpkin grower from Hampshire, England, broke his own record with the giant squash. Named Bagheera after the black panther in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, the pumpkin was officially recognised by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC) on October 3.

The pumpkin weighs more than a tonne, making it heavier than a white rhinoceros. Its enormous size has drawn attention from visitors eager to see the record-breaking vegetable up close.

Growing a pumpkin of this size required months of care and hard work. Paton told Guinness World Records that he spent up to 6 hours a day tending to his pumpkin for two months.

Pumpkins draw visitors ahead of Halloween

Bagheera is now on display at Sunnyfields Farm near Southampton in Hampshire, where visitors can see the giant pumpkin until the end of October.

The farm has become a popular attraction for people looking to experience the colourful world of pumpkins ahead of Halloween. Visitors can explore displays featuring pumpkins and squash in different sizes, shapes and colours, including orange, white, yellow and green.

With Halloween approaching, many people visit farms to choose pumpkins to carve or decorate for the festival. The sight of hundreds of pumpkins creates a seasonal attraction for families and visitors.

Sunnyfields Farm has also attracted attention for another record-breaking display. In September, it set a record for the largest squash mosaic with a portrait of David Attenborough, created using 10,000 squashes to mark his 100th year.

For now, however, Bagheera remains one of the farm’s main attractions. Visitors have been gathering around the giant pumpkin, displayed on a small platform, to take a closer look at its massive size.

After its public display ends, the record-breaking pumpkin is expected to be used as cattle feed.