Mr Chappell, along with his grandson Fletcher Chappell-Davis won the biggest pumpkin competition at the weekend’s Kootingal Pumpkin Festival.

The grandfather and grandson growing duo  first planted their big pumpkin in pots in late August then planted them out in the paddock in September when the frosts were over.

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Mr Chappell is in charge of the fruit and vegetable section at the Armidale Show and grows them annually for the show as a novelty.

“It’s a bit of a novelty because people love to see the big pumpkins,” he said.

The Atlantic Cattle Pumpkin was picked on March 12 and is the biggest Mr Chappell has ever grown. 

The biggest they grew last year was 104kg, and they won the pumpkin festival this year with a 260kg whopper, with the duo aiming higher for next year.

“We’d really like to get over the 300kg mark next year,” Mr Chappell said.

“We had expected this one to rot before now.”

Grandson Fletcher said he enjoyed growing the monsters.

“It’s a real challenge,” he said.

The St Marys, Armidale school student said he hadn’t tried talking or playing music to the pumpkins, but it might be something they try next growing season.

Mr Chappell said the pumpkins weren’t as good this year overall because of the rain we got in December and January and not many bees around to pollinate the vegetables.

The 260kg pumpkin is destined for cattle feed.