Albuquerque Gardener Sets New State Pumpkin Record
Local gardener Allen Clark produced a 1,052-pound pumpkin, which is now on display for area residents to visit.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Gardening
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Albuquerque gardener Allen Clark has set a new New Mexico state record by growing a 1,052-pound pumpkin. The massive gourd, named Mayfield, is currently on public display at Jericho Nursery off Alameda Street.
Why it matters
This achievement marks a significant jump in local competitive gardening milestones, surpassing Clark's own previous 2025 state record of 1,010 pounds. The feat highlights the increasing success of specialized cultivation techniques for giant vegetables in the area.
The new state record pumpkin weighs 1,052 pounds, edging out the 1,010-pound record established in 2025. Clark began his progression toward this size by starting with 10-pound and 50-pound pumpkin attempts.
The players
Allen Clark
An Albuquerque gardener and two-time New Mexico state pumpkin-growing record holder.
Jericho Nursery
A local Albuquerque plant and gardening center currently hosting the record-breaking pumpkin.
The details
Allen Clark achieved this growth through a graduated cultivation process that scaled up over several seasons. He began with modest 10-pound and 50-pound pumpkins, gradually refining his techniques to reach the over half-ton weight class seen this year. The pumpkin is named Mayfield to honor Clark's late 13-year-old German Shepherd mix.
Timeline
2024: Clark successfully grew a 947-pound pumpkin for the New Mexico State Fair.
2025: Clark set the previous state record at 1,010 pounds.
Summer 2026: The dog Mayfield passed away.
October 2026: The 1,052-pound pumpkin is displayed.
The Home Front
This record-breaking harvest tracks with the documented trend of increasingly larger vegetable yields among regional hobbyists. It serves as a benchmark for local competitive gardening, following the precedent set by the 2025 New Mexico pumpkin weight record.
Home gardeners interested in record-sized efforts should visit the display at Jericho Nursery to observe the results of professional-grade cultivation firsthand. Consider documenting your own seasonal growing successes to compare growth trajectories against these local figures.
The takeaway
Large-scale gardening requires a patient, incremental approach to plant development. Keep track of your own year-over-year vegetable weights to identify which varieties and soil management techniques work best in your local climate.
Further reading
For tips on growing your own prize-winning produce, visit our section on Gardening.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 96.3 KKOB.
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