An Essex gardener’s extraordinary pumpkin has become the centre of attention after reaching a staggering 1,200lb (544kg), with its grower claiming the giant vegetable once gained more than 40lb in a single night.Ben White, a 37-year-old heating designer from Maldon, Essex, has spent months nurturing the enormous pumpkin, which he has named Gladys. What began as a hobby has turned into a serious horticultural experiment for White, who has been growing pumpkins for around a decade.Gladys was pollinated on June 30 and has been carefully monitored ever since. White has been growing the pumpkin inside a polytunnel, where he can control its environment, including its water supply and temperature. A fan is also used to help keep the plant cool as it continues to grow.The gardener has been sharing regular updates about Gladys online, documenting the rapid progress while also using the project to raise money for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance charity.In one Instagram update, White revealed just how quickly the pumpkin had been developing. He wrote, “No tricks… just 19 days of ridiculous growth. At her peak, she was piling on 40+lbs a night.”For White, however, the enormous size of Gladys is not simply about setting a record. He has described the experience as “one huge horticultural experiment”, with every detail of the growing process carefully considered.“Every litre of water and gram of nutrition has a purpose,” he wrote. “It isn’t just about growing a massive pumpkin. It’s about seeing how far you can push a plant towards its genetic potential.”His relationship with the giant pumpkin has even become surprisingly personal. White has said he “feels like a father” to Gladys after spending so much time caring for her. His dedication has also earned him the playful description of a “vegetable tamer”.This is far from White’s first attempt at growing giant vegetables. His interest began about ten years ago when he bought pumpkin seeds from a garden centre. Speaking to BBC Radio 2, he recalled, “Ten years ago I brought some seed from a garden centre and grew one to 100lb, and since then I’ve been hooked.”His hobby has since taken him into some prestigious gardening territory. In 2021, White became the first gardener to showcase a giant pumpkin at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.Now, his attention is firmly on the RHS Malvern Autumn Show, where Gladys is expected to be entered into competition during the final weekend of September. With the pumpkin still growing, White will be hoping that his careful approach can translate into an impressive competition weight.Also read:Dakota Johnson's home is a vintage, jungly abode cradled with colourful plant friends: 10 beautiful indoor plants that fill her homeHow to keep your plants thriving and completely bug freeDespite Gladys’s remarkable size, however, she is nowhere near the current world record for the heaviest pumpkin. The record was set last year by Hampshire twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton, whose giant pumpkin weighed almost 1,280kg (1.26 tons).The brothers reportedly spent 130 days growing their record-breaking pumpkin and used a trickle irrigation system to deliver water slowly to the plant.Gladys may not be challenging that record just yet, but White’s giant pumpkin has already demonstrated just how extraordinary a backyard passion can become. From a 100lb pumpkin grown from a garden-centre seed to a 1,200lb contender being prepared for competition, his decade-long fascination with giant vegetables has certainly reached a new scale.