Terry and Candace Stevens of Mobile never thought that a small springtime planting project would put them on the brink of a world record. The couple planted a few okra seeds in their backyard last March, hoping for a decent harvest for summer. What they didn’t expect was for one of their plants to soar to an extraordinary height.

According to an interview with Fox 10 News, the Stevens’ backyard now holds an okra plant that stands at an astounding 16 feet 10 inches — just six inches taller than the current Guinness World Record holder, a 16-foot-4-inch okra plant grown by Jack Reno Sweeney in New Orleans in 2022.

The remarkable height was officially verified by Byrd Surveying, whose team measured the plant for the couple.

The Stevens’ application for the world record is currently under review by Guinness World Records. Kylie Galloway, Senior PR Executive for Guinness Americas, confirmed that the application is in the verification process, meaning it could be weeks before the couple officially learns if their plant will make history.