Focus on Tet watermelon care
To prepare goods for Tet, Southern watermelon growers in Da Teh and Cat Tien communes have sown more than 110 hectares of various types of watermelons. In which, Da Teh commune alone accounts for about 90 hectares.
These days, going to the watermelon fields in Da Teh, Cat Tien, it is easy to see images of people going to the fields from early morning to take care of watermelons.
On the lush green watermelon fields, people are busy with stages such as pruning branches, turning fruit, adjusting vines, and selecting fruit for care.
The urgent but excited working atmosphere is evident on every face. According to assessments, this year the weather is relatively favorable, watermelon trees grow well and have few pests and diseases.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Tau (resident of Da Teh commune), one of the long-time watermelon growers, said that this year's Tet watermelon crop his family planted more than 4 sao. At this time, the whole family focuses on the most important stages such as pruning branches and selecting fruits.
We have to check the garden regularly, because each watermelon root only retains one most beautiful fruit to focus on nutrition, helping the fruit to be evenly large, with a shiny green skin, and fresh red flesh - these are the factors that determine the value of Tet watermelons," Mr. Tau shared.
According to Mr. Luong Minh Te (Da Teh commune), watermelons are expected to ripen right when the Tet market starts to become bustling. "Watermelons will ripen from the Kitchen Gods season, harvesting is bustling until about the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month and then sell," Mr. Te said.
At the stage when the fruit develops strongly, watermelon growers continue to prune the secondary branches, concentrate nutrients to nourish the fruit and often flip the fruit to ensure beautiful appearance.
Each stage requires meticulousness and experience, because even a small mistake can affect the quality of Tet melons. Therefore, these days, people almost "eat and sleep in the fields" to closely monitor each melon bed.
Hoping for a bumper melon season
According to people, to have an effective Tet melon crop, right from the beginning of the crop, farmers have boldly invested in quite large costs.
On average, for each sao of watermelons, growers have to spend about 10 million VND for seedlings, fertilizers, nutrients, tarpaulin cover and care.
In return, if the weather is favorable, the harvested output can reach from 4 - 4.5 tons/1,000m2, bringing in significant income. In recent years, Tet watermelon prices have been quite stable, fluctuating from 5,000 - 6,000 VND/kg, helping watermelon growers make a profit and feel secure in sticking with traditional crops.
For farmers in the southern communes of Lam Dong, watermelon is not only a crop that brings income but also has profound spiritual meaning.
Round, red-fleshed watermelons symbolize luck and prosperity in the new year. Therefore, growing Tet watermelons has become a habit, associated with many families for decades.
Mr. Luu Van Phuong, Vice Chairman of Da Teh Commune People's Committee, said that thanks to favorable weather conditions, this year's melon crop is developing well. Some areas have been selected for fruit and carefully cared for by people to harvest on time for Tet Nguyen Dan.
Local authorities also coordinate with functional sectors to guide farmers in pest and disease prevention, ensuring safe and efficient production.
