Blog Post

World Record Academy's Hall of Fame Inductee: Patrick Teichmann

August 18, 2021

MIAMI, Florida, United States--Giant vegetable grower Patrick Teichmann (also known as 'Patrick The Carrot'), from Pößneck in Thuringia, Germany, who managed to set the world record for the Most giant vegetable varieties cultivated in one garden, has been included into the World Record Academy's Hall of Fame for his his Dedication and Commitment in Gardening and promoting the Giant Vegetables growing, in recognition of outstanding achievements in sharing his lifelong passion and knowledge of giant vegetable growing, for his willingness to share his knowledge and plants with others throughout the world, for his contribution to the profession of gardening and to the greater public good.

The World Record Academy's Hall of Fame recognizes extraordinary achievements by record holders from around the world.

The World Record Academy's Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding international contributions to the development, advanced or improvement of world records around the world. Every inductee has contributed to the sucess of world records in some significant way.

What are you doing for a living?

Patrick Teichmann: "I live from the giant vegetables... I do make spots for German TV, write articles for newspapers and media, I give lectures on giant vegetables."

About your garden:
* surface (square meters): 196 qm

* what sort of vegetables are you growing?

Patrick Teichmann: "All sorts from the record list to begin in this questions and new since this year.... :

- Giant sorghum

- Giant Butternut Squash

- Giant Turnip

- Long Salsify

Your favorite vegetable(s)?
Patrick Teichmann: "My favorite vegetables are my first giant Veg categorys.... Marrow and Giant Tomato. But I love all Giant vegetables."

Most interesting vegetable you have grown?
Patrick Teichmann: "The Grow of Giant vegetables is general very interesting And not comparable to normal vegetables, but I think the Long Veggies (long Radish, long Carrot, long Parsnip, Long Turnip, long Beetroot, Long salsify) is most interesting. They grow in pipes that are attached to the house wall at a 45 degree angle and I can only see at harvest if it has been successful."

Did you help other farmers? Do you provide seeds to other farmers, friends?

Patrick Teichmann: "Yes. I send every year a big seed collection to the EGVGA (European Giant vegetables Growers Association). The EGVGA give the seeds to many other growers. Other growers and people contact me via Facebook and ask me to seeds...

I give most seeds. usually prefer the seed swap for seeds sending in other countries. My seeds grow Among other things in USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Finland, Taiwan.

On what gardening shows you have had your giant vegetables?

Patrick Teichmann: "I go every year (since 2012) to official GPC (Great Pumpkin Commonwealth) weigh Offs. The weigh Offs are the biggest for me... I love it!
- 2012 to 2019 I went to the Thuringia weigh off
- 2016 to 2021 I went to the GPC European Pumpkin weigh off Ludwigsburg
- 2020 to 2021 I went to the GPC Early Weigh Off Ludwigsburg
- since 2020 I have my own weigh off, but with Corona is not so easy and the weigh off is a little bit smaller than normally...

Your advice for other amateur gardeners? Can other farmers contact you?
Patrick Teichmann: "My advice for other amateur gardeners is: grow Giant vegetables!!! It's not so easy, Do not give up you can go to official weigh Offs and show your harvest the world. The easiest way to contact me is via Facebook.

What you have learned from growing giant vegetables?
Patrick Teichmann: "Actually, I'm a very impatient person, but from nature and especially the giant vegetables I learned patience ... or I learned to come to terms with it. Examples
- the seed needs time to germinate - to speed it up I file the seed
- the plant needs time to grow - since I have to meet the deadlines for the weigh offs, I would just sow earlier with grow lamps in the house.

Your favorite recipe (dish) using vegetables?
Patrick Teichmann: "It's curios, but I do not eat vegetables. I am a absolutely carnivore! Maybe that's why my vegetables get so big ... They are not afraid to be eaten. Lol

Your plans for your garden? What do you want to grow in the near future?
Patrick Teichmann: "My garden is the record garden. Since 2016 I have completely reworked him to grow giant vegetables. In itself I am quite satisfied, but I always find something to improve the breeding. For example, I plan to build a canopy for the Giant Cabbage to get better results.

"I actually find a couple of new Giant Veg categories every year that inspire me. I usually get suggestions from the Weigh Offs or other growers in the giant vegetables community on Facebook.

How did you benefit from receiving a world record from us?
Patrick Teichmann: "Many friends have congratulated me. The media liked to take up the topic because it is something special and a great honor as a small German grower to get a world record from the World Record Academy from Miami, United States.
I am a very big America Fan."