Gardener Wins Four World Records in One Season
- Editor OGN Daily
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
This summer, Graham Barratt harvested a haul of horticultural titles.
From Gloucestershire in south west England, he told Guinness World Records that he has “been growing veg on and off for most of my life” but the competitive edge crept in just over a decade ago once he started growing his produce on a communal farm with access to a commercial polytunnel. “Soon, I became interested in trying to compete with my plot neighbours and soon grew some big onions. The interest grew from there and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
His 2025 streak of success kicked off on 2 June with a magnificent mangetout, which measured in at 180 mm (7 in) - more than double the average size and now been recognized as the world's longest ever pea pod. A month later, on 11 July, it was the turn of a massive tomatillo. Picked from a “Plaza Latina Giant” plant, it became the heaviest tomatillo yet documented by GWR, and was a whopping 35 percent heavier than the previous holder.
Graham wrapped up his summer of gardening glory with a double-whammy of luffa records on 28 July with the longest luffa: 1.396 m (4 ft 7 in), surpassing the previous record by 10 cm (3 in); and the heaviest luffa: 2.82 kg (6 lb 3.5 oz), surpassing the previous record by 0.2 kg (7 oz).
Asked if he thought the weather had been a contributing factor to his horticultural triumphs in 2025, Graham was in no doubt: “Absolutely. The mild spring and extended warm summer has benefitted my growing, particularly as I have been growing more exotic veg, and this has definitely added to success."
"After so many years, it feels great to have achieved four world records in a single season. This was possibly because I focused on veg that would be fun and a test to grow. At the same time, I spent a lot of effort acquiring and testing the right seed. Growing more exotic veg is a challenge in the UK, but being able to grow with some great propagators, and undercover in polytunnels is a real bonus. I’m very lucky."