Say Hello to Europe’s Biggest Pumpkin

Belgian farmer Mathias Willemijns won the pumpkin competition this year with a gourd that weighed 1,008 kg.

Belgian farmer Mathias Willemijns’ winning pumpkin.

(Photo: Ruptly Screengrab)

At the annual European Pumpkin Championship, farmers from across Europe measure their enormous pumpkins to see whose hard work bore the greatest fruit.

Belgian farmer Mathias Willemijns won Ludwigsburg's pumpkin competition this year, with a gourd that weighed in at 1,008 kg (2,222 lbs).

The 24-year-old farmer has now picked up the European title for two years running, although this year he didn't beat the size of his 2016 champion specimen, which weighed 1,190 kg (2,623 lbs), setting the world record.

Willemijns said that the key to his victory was to have a healthy plant for the whole season.

We had one fruit on the plant which was grown in 80 square metres. We had put the main vine straight with nicely ordered side vine to get a plant that develops quickly. It had leaves in a short period. When you have a completely healthy plant during the whole season then you get a good result. The key is a good, healthy plant.

Mathias Willemijns, Belgian Farmer 

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj