Essex grower's giant pumpkin Gladys weighs 544kg

An Essex heating engineer has nurtured a giant pumpkin weighing approximately 544 kilograms. Ben White, an amateur gardener, grew the Atlantic giant variety named Gladys in an 18-metre polytunnel.

White germinated the seed on 19 April and pollinated the plant on 30 June. He documented the process on Instagram, where he describes himself as a 'Vegetable Tamer'.

Cultivation methods

Gladys was grown inside a large polytunnel. White provided consistent water and nutrients and used a fan to keep the giant fruit cool. He says there were 'no tricks' involved, just a decade of experience in growing oversized pumpkins. At her peak growth rate, Gladys gained over 40 pounds in a single night, according to White's posts.

'It isn’t just about growing a massive pumpkin,' White wrote. 'It’s about seeing how far you can push a plant towards its genetic potential.' He also expressed a personal connection to the fruit, stating he 'feels like a father' to her.

Size and scale

The pumpkin has a circumference of 4.3 metres and its vines cover an area of 600 square feet. White's creation far exceeded his initial target weight of 1,000 pounds. For comparison, Gladys weighs about as much as six or seven average-sized adults.

Despite its impressive size, Gladys is not a world record holder. That title belongs to a pumpkin grown by twin brothers Stuart and Ian Paton from Lymington in Hampshire. Their record-breaking fruit, grown last October, weighed 1,278kg with a 6.4-metre circumference.

The competitive giant vegetable scene

White is not entering Gladys for a Halloween display. Instead, he plans to shows her at the Canna UK National Giant Vegetables Championship at the end of this month. While she will not challenge the Paton brothers' record, the exhibition has a charitable purpose.

White intends to use the display to raise money for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance. 'It gives the challenge a purpose beyond simply trying to grow an enormous pumpkin,' he explained via email. A previous effort with pumpkins named Gloria and Greta helped raise £1,100 for the cause.

Pumpkins versus other giant produce

Horticulturally, pumpkins are classified as fruit. This places Gladys in a different category than vegetables grown for sheer mass. The source cites several other record-holding giant vegetables for context.

Ben White's focus remains on his own giant pumpkin. He will transport Gladys to the national championship later this month, hoping her size will attract donations for the air ambulance service.