An onion larger than a person's head, a watermelon weighing as much as an average person, or even a pumpkin nearing one tonne – these are the goals of a Russian horticulture enthusiast obsessed with growing humongous vegetables.

Alexander Chusov, 29 that his hobby began about 10 years ago, when he saw photos of giant pumpkins online and decided to become the first person in Russia to grow one himself.

But first, he had to find giant pumpkin seeds – as such enormous vegetables can't be grown from regular store-bought ones.

“Every giant pumpkin has its own pedigree, which details the year and type of pumpkin, the pumpkin it was crossed with, and the offspring it produced,” Chusov said.

He explained that a single vine can cover an area of around 120 square meters and requires about 1,000 litres of water per day. It also needs protection from extreme heat and cold, special nutrients, and daily checks for rot or disease.

In 2024, Chusov grew a pumpkin weighing 817kg, but he's determined to break the one-tonne mark.

This year, he came just 31 kilograms short — but his 969-kilogram pumpkin still set a new record in Russia.