A QUARTER-TONNE pumpkin has smashed the competition out of the veggie patch to win the Royal Queensland Show’s (Ekka) Giant Pumpkin Competition.

Minden’s Tony Frohloff (main picture) was not only named the winner at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, thanks to his 254.5kg pumpkin, but also claimed second place with a 210kg entry.

It sees the Queensland reclaim the Champion Heaviest Pumpkin of Show title he last won in 2017.

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And, he gets to pocket $1,000 in prize money.

Tony’s Dad and biggest rival Geoff Frohloff came third with a 169.5kg whopper, but he still holds the 261.5kg Ekka record set in 2015.

Tony said he might have smashed the record if it wasn’t for a case of surface rot.

“It was unfortunate I had to pick my pumpkin a week early because of rot,” he said.

“If it was left on the vine for another week like planned, I might now be the record holder,” he joked.

“I’m still happy with how big I managed to get the pumpkin considering the very dry growing conditions this year – some days I spent 1 ½ hours watering it.”

Tony’s rein as pump-king was briefly brought to an end by neighbour Steven Fritz last year, who grew a 206kg monster.

Steven wasn’t able to enter this year, but instead coached his nine year old niece Kyla-Shaye Fritz to a win in the Youth class, with her gourd tipping the scales at 58.5kg.

Congrats to our Youth category winner Kyla-Shaye – her pumpkin weighed a hefty 58.5kg! #ekka #pumpkins #97daystogo Posted by Ekka on Friday, 3 May 2019

Those who want to try their luck next year, can sign up for some free Giant Atlantic Pumpkin seeds at the show.

The giant pumpkin competition signals the official countdown to Ekka, which is now just 97 days away.