Bustling Tet flower season

These days, Ms. Le Thi Ngot (Nhi Thanh commune, Thu Thua district, Long An province) is busy with the marigold flower beds that are blooming green. For more than 20 years, her family has been growing marigolds every Tet holiday. “The land next to my house is empty, so I grow flowers to both earn extra income and enjoy the Tet atmosphere.” Ms. Ngọt said.

Every year, she grows 700-1,000 marigolds, mainly selling them to regular customers, friends, and relatives. Although the work is hard, for Ms. Ngot, this is a joy. The flower pots not only help her increase her income at the end of the year but also make her home more cozy.

The marigold beds are meticulously cared for this year’s Tet season

In order for the marigolds to bloom on time and achieve quality, Ms. Ngot focuses on selecting the right variety and care. Marigolds need to be planted in a sunny place, watered and pruned regularly to help the plants grow well. When she sees signs of early flowering, she dilutes nitrogen fertilizer to water, helping to prolong the blooming time, ensuring that the flowers bloom during Tet. “Growing marigolds is not difficult, the investment capital is also low, but the grower must be diligent in monitoring them every day. Only then they can avoid pests and diseases and the flowers will bloom evenly and beautifully" - Ms. Ngọt said.

Currently, she provides many types of pots, from 1, 3 to 4 plants/pot, meeting the diverse needs of customers. Each pot costs from 70,000 to 100,000 VND, affordable for people. After each Tet season, her family has an income of about 10 million VND from selling flowers.

Besides marigold, yellow apricot is also an essential during Tet. In addition to the famous yellow apricot craft village in Tan Tay commune (Thanh Hoa district), in many other areas of the province, farmers also grow apricots to serve the Tet market. Mr. Nguyen Van Mot (Huong Tho Phu commune, Tan An city) has nearly 20 years of experience growing apricots. He grows many types such as yellow apricots, four-season apricots, and ornamental apricots.

Mr. Mot shared: "To have apricots bloom right on Tet, you need to take care of them carefully and with the right techniques. The time to pick apricot leaves in bulk usually takes place from December 13 to 18, Lunar Calendar. After plucking the leaves, the apricot tree only has flower buds left, so it is necessary to closely monitor the weather changes, monitor the water, pinch the tips of the branches and water the roots so that the tree has enough nutrients to nourish the flowers".

This year, Mr. Nguyen Van Mot (Huong Tho Phu commune, Tan An city) plants 400 pots of four-season apricot trees for grafting, serving the Tet market

The care step after plucking the apricot leaves is equally important. Mr. Mot said that plucking the apricot leaves helps the flower buds to release their silk shell, stimulating the buds to develop and bloom right on Tet. Normally, about 2 weeks after plucking the leaves, the apricot flowers will bloom, producing beautiful pots of yellow apricot trees to welcome Tet. He also uses cow dung, straw fertilizer and water hyacinth to cover the base, helping to retain moisture and limit water loss, ensuring that the apricot tree grows well throughout the care process.

This year, Mr. Mot planted 400 four-season apricot trees for grafting, supplying the Tet market. He mainly sell to acquaintances and friends; at the same time, help them take care of and shape the apricot trees. For the trees that meet the standards, are beautiful and healthy, he will sell them, while the trees that do not meet the requirements will continue to be cared for, have their branches bent and wait until the next Tet season.

The yellow color of marigolds, the brilliance of yellow apricots are the results of many days of care, conveying the hope for a prosperous spring. With the diligent hands of farmers, the spring has arrived in time, shining brightly on every corner of the homeland./.

By Du Nhien - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/tat-bat-mua-hoa-tet-a187859.html