( CNN ) -- It 's the time of the year when pumpkins are all the rage . The biggier and heavier , all the more to brag about . Across the country , growers trot out their lovingly grown monster pumpkins . The record holder is a Rhode Island man who last year grew a 1-ton pumpkin that he aptly named `` The Freak II . '' On Sunday , a Long Island , New York , man took the top honors for the island 's largest pumpkin -- a modest , but nevertheless , massive 1,456 pounds . For five months , Scott Armstrong tended to the pumpkin in his backyard . His prize : $ 500 , a plaque , a blue ribbon , and a trophy . CNN talked to Scott Armstrong about what it takes to grown a giant pumpkin : . Getting into the giant pumpkin business : . `` It 's something I always wanted to do as a kid . I 've been doing this since 1998 . It 's just a hobby but here I am 15 years later . I work a normal day job ( he 's a banker ) . Pumpkin raising is my hobby . '' On the winning recipe : . `` I started growing this pumpkin in May . It takes about 5 months . '' `` If you get rain or heat at the wrong time â€ ” too little or too much temperature â€ ” it all has an impact on growing the pumpkin . It 's a fun thing I like to do . And this year , all the stars lined up for me . It does n't always work out that way . It 's extra special when it does . '' On the right pumpkin seeds : . `` I order this special seed , called an Atlantic Giant . That 's the main seed used to produce the really huge pumpkins . '' `` Everybody grows tomatoes and all that other fun stuff , but pumpkins have been my main focus . I trade seeds with guys from all over the world . '' Getting the pumpkin to the scale : . `` This year 's pumpkin weighed in at 1,456 . To get it to the scale , I move the pumpkin from my backyard into my truck . I do it myself , but the trick is getting it into the truck . I use a tripod hoist . I 've never dropped it before , but that would be bad . '' Fate of the winning pumpkin : . `` The pumpkin is sitting in the back of my truck in my driveway right now . Nine out of 10 times , my giant pumpkins just end up on the front yard . I cut it open a few days after Halloween and take the seeds out . I dry them and send them out to people around the world . We 've tried to carve the pumpkins as jack-o-lanterns before . It could have gone better . Let 's just say that . ''
He has tended to his cows in his backyard . The conditions have to be just right for a winner , he says . The winning cow is always in the back of his truck .