The pumpkin 'obsession' behind Rocky and Big Boy

Most vegetable patch enthusiasts dream of successfully growing a perfect pumpkin to place on their front step, adorned with a scary face, ready for trick or treaters in October.

Glyn Beasley takes things a little more seriously.

Back when he was a boy, he proudly took a 40lb (18kg) pumpkin to a competition run by his dad, sparking his obsession with the orange fruit.

Ever since the contest, the 55-year-old, from Coalville in Leicestershire, has been trying to beat his weight record. This year, he has more than doubled his record - twice.

Using two seeds from the US on his allotment, Beasley managed to grow the two huge pumpkins, which he has affectionately dubbed Rocky and Big Boy.

"It is a bit of an obsession," Beasley said.

"It comes from my dad years ago, from when I was a kid.

"He was a veg grower, and so I grew up always growing a few little bits at home but since getting the allotment, I've gone for a bit more self-sufficient growing.

"It's a lot more veg to save money basically and it's healthier than supermarkets."

Since getting a space at his local allotment eight years ago, Beasley has taken on his personal pumpkin challenge and, in 2026, he was determined to break the 100lb (45kg) mark.

Despite its name, Big Boy is the smaller of the two pumpkins, weighing 103lb (47kg).

Beasley's pride and joy, Rocky, weighs in at 182lb (82.5kg) - a weight not unheard of for an Olympic heavyweight boxer.

The gardener said the key to his success this year was a mix of nature and nurture.

Such is the importance of the seed to growers, some can sell for as much as $60 (£44) each in the US, with some fruit growing to the size of small cars and weighing about 2,200lb (1,000kg).

"It's the genetics of the seeds that produce really big pumpkins," he said.

"Obviously, a lot of water, a lot of care, and you can only really have one on a plant to grow a big pumpkin.

"You also need the room to grow a really big pumpkin, and don't let the sun hit them because it will dry the skin and stop them growing."

Beasley said he had become the talk of his allotment.

"Quite a few people have actually said 'oh my god that's massive', and a few of the allotment people have come down and asked how the pumpkins are doing and said they can't believe they are real," he said.

"But, I can show you the inside of Rocky because I've actually taken the seeds out of him so I can show you the inside so to prove he is real."

Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.