Pumpkin poobah Geoff Frohloff’s three-year reign as Queensland’s undisputed king of kingsize vegetables has come to an end, but his family won’t want for pumpkin soup now that son Tony has taken the title.

Tony was Saturday crowned Queensland pumpkin king thanks to a 257kg whopper which took top prize at the annual Ekka giant pumpkin competition at Brisbane Showgrounds.

But after years of trying to emulate his father, Tony will now have to look over his shoulder. His own son, Riley, won the youth award with a 48.5kg entry.

Tony’s 257kg whopper was a full 10kg bigger than his dad’s biggest and best effort, which could only score him second place.

But Geoff’s Ekka record remains intact as this year’s winner fell short of the 261.5kg monster that set the record in 2015.

“It’s great to finally beat Dad, and at least we’re keeping the title of pumpkin king in the family,” Tony said.

“There was only 10kg in it and the pumpkins actually have the same measurements, so we didn’t know until today who had won.”

The talent for producing huge pumpkins must be in the genes, as Tony has only been growing them at the clans Minden property, about 40kms west of Ipswich, for three years.

“From fertilising to keeping the soil as loose as possible, it has taken more than four months to grow the pumpkin to this size,” he said.

The giant pumpkin competition signals the official countdown to the Ekka, the Royal Queensland Show, which is 90 days away.
-AAP