Plant Science – Garden of the GIANTS

It’s not just the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! This amazing exhibit encompasses many giants! We have giant pumpkins, giant squash, giant tomatoes, long gourds, bushel gourds, giant watermelons, giant sunflowers, field pumpkins and carved pumpkins! We have weighed in more record breaking pumpkins than anywhere else in the state. Don’t miss out on this garden, you won’t be disappointed by these giants!

2023 Highlights

• Ron Wallace took first place with a 1,950 lb. pumpkin!
• Norm Gansert won the Howard Dill Award for prettiest pumpkin!
• Rick Mace took first place in the Giant Sunflower category measuring in at 23' 5"!

Highlights

• Ron Wallace holds the current Durham Fair record with his pumpkin that weighed 1,950 lbs in 2023
• 2022 State Record weighed at Durham Fair: 211.50 lbs watermelon from John Ciesielski, Bethlehem
• 2021 State Record weighed at Durham Fair: 268 lbs bushel gourd from John Ciesielski, Bethlehem
• “Howard Dill Award” Competition
• Official site of The Durham Fair Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off
• More record-breaking pumpkins than anywhere in Connecticut

FUN FACT: The current North American Record is held by Travis Gienger from Minnesota, with a 2,749 lbs pumpkin!

FUN FACT: The current World Record was set in 2023 also by Travis Gienger from Minnesota with his 2,749 lbs pumpkin!

FUN FACT: In 2020 Steve Connolly set a new Bushel Gourd record with his 470.5 lbs bushel gourd!