A cornstalk that was planted by accident has now shattered a Guinness world record.

The record belongs to Matt Jacovelli, a Deptford retiree who noticed the unusually abundant cornstalk over the summer.

"I started counting and got up to 12, 13 and 14 cobs and couldn't believe it," he said.

The final tally was 29 cobs, verified by Rutgers agricultural agent Michelle Infante-Casella on Aug. 30.

Jacovelli submitted the official count to Guinness and received a quick ruling. On Thursday, he learned he now holds the Guinness record for "most corn cobs on a single plant."

"I'm pretty happy, I didn't expect it this quick," said Jacovelli, who has pursued the record along with his wife, Virginia, and daughter, Jean. "One thing I'm happy about is the state of New Jersey has the record. It's known as the Garden State, so hopefully it helps a little bit more with that."

The previous world record was held by another place known for corn: Iowa.

But Jacovelli nearly doubled that 2009 record, which was for 16 cobs.

"I can't see this being beat for a long time," he said.

For perspective on just how unique the Deptford cornstalk is, Infante-Casella explained what a typical cornstalk will yield.

"Most varieties of corn have two ears per plant. One main ear and one weaker secondary ear," she said via email. "I was impressed that it had so many ears on the plant. The plant was not as large as typical corn plants and for it to support all of those ears was incredible"

Jacovelli says he's no agricultural expert, or even much of a farmer: The modest garden he and Virginia plant consists of a couple tomato plants, lilies and other flowers.

But he had a hunch about his cornstalk, and asked Jean to look up the current record. When she found out it was just 16 cobs, the family began their Guinness quest.

Jacovelli gives Virginia all the credit for watering the garden.

But credit for planting the cornstalk goes to the squirrels.

Jacovelli likes to feed the squirrels, rabbits and birds that visit his yard. He said the squirrels buried some of the Tractor Supply Producer's Pride seeds he tossed their way, resulting in the miracle stalk.

"The squirrel gods were good to me. I was laughing about it. For years, I've been feeding the squirrels. I figure it's their way of paying me back."

Jacovelli pulled some other squirrel-planted stalks as he yanked out weeds, but the productive cornstalk survived.

"We were so busy working at a building we rebuilt ... and this one just took off and I didn't even have time to pull it out.

"If it weren't for me being so busy, that thing would have been pulled."

Instead the cornstalk became part of Jersey agricultural lore.

There's been plenty of notable fruit and produce in the state, said Infante-Casella.

"I have been a judge at county fairs for vegetable contests that include the 'largest,' 'strangest' or 'most unique' vegetable. This plant would definitely have won an award at a fair!" she said. "Funny enough, I was just remembering when I was a senior in high school, I won the state Future Farmers of America vegetable and fruit judging contest that was held at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. I suppose that was the beginning that led me to judging a Guinness world record corn plant."

The Gloucester County Freeholders plan to present Jacovelli with a proclamation for his family's achievement.

The historic cornstalk is now preserved, Jacovelli said.

"I built a container for it," he said. "I call it the corn coffin."

The 7-by-2-foot box is made of pine wood.

"We have to hang it upside down in a dry place and let it completely dry out,"Jacovelli said of the stalk.

As for next year's garden, he's not planning to change much.

“We might increase it a little bit, but I don’t expect anything like this,” Jacovelli said. “This is one time in your life.”