From

Location

Message

Date Posted

South Dakota

Congrats to Ryan Cook for growing a behemoth 83lbs 1oz Butternut Squash. I believe this is the heaviest butternut ever weighed. Way to go Ryan.

9/16/2022 8:58:36 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Unfortunately his record will be broken this year and because of some slimeball activities he will more than likely never get the full recognition that he deserves.

9/16/2022 9:16:31 AM

British Columbia, Canada

Congrats Ryan!

9/16/2022 6:24:09 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Also could someone explain the whole butternut squash drama that's been going on? I'm confused by it all.

9/16/2022 6:27:14 PM

Bethlehem CT

Congratulations Ryan!

9/16/2022 7:52:28 PM

Bethlehem CT

Was that last year that he grew the record?
https://www.wvva.com/2021/11/19/ryan-cook-grows-world-record-butternut-squash/

9/16/2022 7:57:03 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Jordan, the story with the squash drama is that a grower submitted a claim to Guinness World Records in bad faith, knowing that a squash 18lbs heavier than his had already been weighed. It’s surprising that Guinness is not more thorough in verifying claims. It should not have been difficult for them to discover that the 65lb squash was well short of the record.

9/16/2022 10:24:45 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Ah I understand now, thanks truckinpunpkin.

9/16/2022 11:55:04 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

No problem. Obviously, the grower who made the bogus claim is in the wrong and that’s one issue. The other issue is that the episode reveals that the folks at Guinness failed extraordinarily in doing the homework that all of us probably expect to be done when certifying a world record. In my view, that really diminishes Guinness’s credibility as a record keeper. Hopefully they will correct their mistake, not only for Ryan’s sake, but also to restore their credibility after being fooled so blatantly.

9/17/2022 2:05:13 AM

Netherlands

There are actually quite a few errors in Guinness, including runner beans, beets and more. False claims are being made all the time, sometimes unknowingly and sometimes on purpose. Guinness does not seem to respond to the advice of experts, certainly not once they have recognized a claim.
That being said, I don't think having a Butternut Squash category is advisable as butternut squash can cross with any other member of the moschata family, making it very easy to cheat without noticing and making it difficult to keep the species/variety pure.

9/17/2022 3:38:47 AM

Grittyville, WA

There was a 101 uow. Anyone who wants recognition needs to go after it.

9/17/2022 3:47:04 AM

Colorado

Congrats ryan

9/17/2022 8:02:06 PM

Bethlehem CT

Brad How about just a record for largest Moschata? What would that be and what variety would it be from?

9/18/2022 9:24:21 AM

Pretty sure this current Guiness record was done by the GPC as they are the go-to for all things fruits and vegetables. I'm sure if you contact them about this, the current award will be revoked and the new one issued.

9/18/2022 10:43:20 AM

Long Island,New York

Ahhhh---those squash.....will there always be controversy ?.....lol

9/18/2022 8:15:59 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Big Moon…. Butternut is not the issue because if you have people at a weighoff that know what butternut squash look like then you’re just fine…. If you went with the logic that cucurbit Pepo Can interbreed extremely easy therefore we should not make it a category, I don’t think helps the giant growing world. On the other hand what you’re suggesting is if we just took the largest C. Pepo then that would currently be A Marrow…. So we would not count giant Field pumpkins or zucchini among others. How about we talk C. maxima Which can freely interbreed with others Squash so do we get rid of AG‘s in our contest as well…. I think the answer is education we just need to make sure people know what they’re looking at… I believe Brad has even said it before if they Marrow has orange it’s disqualified.

9/18/2022 8:16:37 PM

Bethlehem CT

I don't disagree with you Chris.

9/19/2022 2:27:10 PM

Bethlehem CT

Chris, I was questioning Brad, I wanted to see what he thinks should be done to solve the problem he mentioned and I posed a solution.(which I should not have). You are absolutely correct and I was thinking along the same lines as you. If we were to disqualify butternut we would have to really consider doing away with all the C. pepo like you mentioned and even the Giant maxima squash.

9/19/2022 2:40:32 PM

Bethlehem CT

I think it is quite obvious to tell a butternut from other varieties, however you could have a lunga de napoli cross with them and screw up the tan color. So having clear rules for qualification is very important as it is with marrows and field pumpkins and Giant maxima squash.
This is a picture of the Lunga di napoli cultivar.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=328463

9/19/2022 2:49:06 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Yes I agree with what you’re saying big moon!

9/19/2022 8:08:05 PM

Grittyville, WA

What little I know is that the Lunga di Napoli might make that stuff they call "veggie spaghetti" very well. I grew one and it seemed excellently suited to that culinary purpose, multiplied by about 30 very hungry adults.

9/19/2022 11:40:45 PM