Biggest Pumpkin in the Country Was Grown in New York State

It's officially pumpkin season in New York, and while most residents are looking to find a solid gourd to carve for Halloween, some farmers have a different goal in mind.

Last weekend, Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest was held in Saratoga Springs, NY. The annual event brought together growers from across the country to see who could produce the largest pumpkin, and this year's competitors did not disappoint (below).

Winner of the 2024 Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest

The winner of the 2024 Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest was a pumpkin grown right here in New York State. Coming in at a whopping 2,018 pounds, the giant gourd beat out competitors from Massachusetts, West Virginia, and beyond. Still, it's not as big as the New York record set in 2022...

The Biggest Pumpkin in North America Was Grown in New York

Just two years ago, the largest pumpkin to have ever been grown in north America was produced right here in New York State (below). Grown by the Andrusz family, the 2,554-pound behemoth might look more like a hobbit house than garden produce.

How Do You Grow a Giant Pumpkin in New York State?

The answer to how giant pumpkins are grown is simple: carefully. Farmers share that every condition must be correct, and that attention must be paid nearly every hour of every day. Check out the amazing time-lapse of a giant pumpkin that grew up to 40 pounds per day (!) in the video below.

Videos of Giant Pumpkins in New York State

While the time-lapse might make it look like the grow was a straightforward process, the farmer behind the pumpkin shared another, far more detailed video. It shows an attempt where the gourd grew to 2,480 pounds, less than 100 pounds away from the current record (below).

The Hudson Valley is no stranger to pumpkin growing (did you know one of the best pumpkin patches in the country is in Ulster County, NY?). Check out more New York pumpkin destinations below.