A Bridgeport man with a green thumb hopes his large squash will, well, squash the competition and set a new record.

Carl Giancaspro says he never thought the Italian squash seeds he planted last May would grow to a plant that now stands six feet five inches tall. Despite the cool weather, he hopes his special touch will help the squash grow past the Guinness Book record of seven feet. Giancaspro says many people doubted he could successfully grow almonds in Connecticut, but he also proved them wrong.

Giancaspro is monitoring the progress of his squash before he shells out the $250 application fee to the Guinness Book of World Records.