Maine Man Smashes State Record With Nearly 7-Pound Tomato

A South Bristol man has officially grown his way into the Maine record books with a tomato that looks more like a small pumpkin than something you’d slice up for a sandwich.

According to WGME, Leon Busby set a new Maine state record Monday for the heaviest tomato ever grown in the state, according to the Maine Pumpkin Growers Association. His massive tomato tipped the scales at an incredible 6.92 pounds.

To put that into perspective, the previous state record was 5.19 pounds, set in 2024 by Sarah Whitty of Veazie. That means Busby didn’t just barely edge out the old record — he beat it by well over a pound and a half.

The Maine Pumpkin Growers Association says giant tomatoes can actually be a pretty approachable crop for gardeners interested in trying their hand at growing something record-worthy. Tomatoes are relatively low maintenance compared with some other giant vegetables, and they don’t require a huge amount of growing space.

Of course, getting one to nearly seven pounds is a completely different story.

Busby’s monster tomato may also help produce Maine’s next generation of giant growers. The association says seeds from the record-setting tomato will be included in next year’s spring seed packet, giving other gardeners across the state a chance to grow from the same genetics, WGME said.

So somewhere in Maine next summer, somebody may already be growing the tomato that eventually takes Busby’s crown.