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1,674-pound pumpkin just shy of world record

South Dakota farmer's monster gourd fell short by only 51 pounds

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AP
South Dakota farmer Kevin Marsh stands next to his 1,674-pound pumpkin. To his right, his daughters Maddie and Autumn sit on a 1,536-pound pumpkin he grew.
updated 10/8/2010 2:20:18 PM ET 2010-10-08T18:20:18

PARKER, S.D. — This pumpkin weighs nearly enough to be Cinderella's coach.

South Dakota farmer Kevin Marsh of Parker knows his 1,674-pound pumpkin isn't pretty — it's won an ugliest pumpkin award at a Colorado event. But it's also only 51 pounds shy of the world record listed by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.

Great gourds! A whole new level of pumpkin carving

It's not the first big pumpkin Marsh has grown. One he grew earlier this year was 1,536 pounds, and he had one at 1,488 pounds last year.

Show us your giant vegetables! We want to see them

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Marsh says he doesn't have any big secrets for growing behemoth squash. He says he buries vines as they grow so they get double the amount of roots, and uses a lot of organic fertilizers.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Photos: Guinness World Records 2011

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    Image:
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  46. Longest hair

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  47. Heaviest shoes walked in

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