Chrysanthemum growers are in the final stretch of their Tet flower season.
In mid-December, chrysanthemum growers enter the "final stretch" of their Tet flower cultivation. This is the most crucial time of the entire season, because even a few days' delay, whether the flowers bloom early or late, means a significant loss of income.
In the Hen field of Yen Thanh commune, the largest concentrated area for growing Tet chrysanthemums in the locality, the atmosphere of labor these days is always bustling from early morning to late afternoon. Between the rows of chrysanthemums, you can see farmers diligently wrapping nets around each flower bud.
The task may seem simple, but it requires meticulousness and patience. The small net is skillfully placed over the bud, helping the flower to bloom evenly later, preventing the petals from becoming misaligned, and maintaining its round shape – a crucial factor determining its selling price during Tet (Lunar New Year).
Mr. Phan Sy Cuong, owner of one of the largest chrysanthemum fields in the Hen area, shared that this year his family boldly expanded their chrysanthemum cultivation area to 2 hectares. To secure the land for production, he rents it from local people at a price of 20 million VND/hectare/year. This is a significant investment, not including the cost of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, electricity for lighting, and labor.
According to Mr. Cuong, growing chrysanthemums for Tet (Lunar New Year) requires a lot of experience. From the beginning of October, his family has planted several batches of seeds to spread out the harvest, so they have flowers to sell from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month and also have a large quantity for the Lunar New Year. "The most important thing is adjusting the care regime so that the flowers bloom exactly for Tet. If they bloom a few days early, the price will drop; if they bloom a few days late, it's a complete loss," Mr. Cuong said.
This year, the weather has generally been quite favorable, with a long, dry winter, making flower care less strenuous. However, what worries flower growers is the widespread appearance of fungal diseases on the plants, forcing them to increase spraying for control. Costs have therefore increased significantly. Nevertheless, the price of flowers at the beginning of the season is quite promising. In early December, chrysanthemums were purchased by traders at the garden for about 3,500 VND per plant – a price considered high compared to previous years.
Next to Mr. Cuong's flower field is a 1.5-hectare chrysanthemum garden belonging to Mr. Phan Quoc Nam's family. The entire field is also in the budding stage, with many workers busy covering the rows of flowers with netting and closely monitoring each bed. Mr. Nam said that each flower season lasts more than 3 months, but the work is almost non-stop.
"Growing chrysanthemums for Tet requires diligence, hard work, and a firm grasp of techniques. From pinching off the tips and pruning branches to adjusting sunlight and controlling pests and diseases, every step must be done at the right time," Mr. Nam shared.
According to Mr. Nam, of all the stages, the most difficult is regulating the flowering time to ensure the flowers bloom at the right moment. Flower growers must closely monitor daily weather developments, combining years of experience to adjust the amount of water used for irrigation, the duration of artificial lighting, or the need for shading when necessary.
The Hen field currently has about 5 hectares of concentrated chrysanthemum cultivation for Tet (Lunar New Year), with 3 households engaged in large-scale production. This is also the main supplier of Tet chrysanthemums to the market within and outside the former Yen Thanh district.
Not only in Yen Thanh, but many other chrysanthemum-growing areas in the province are also entering the peak period of care. In Dien Chau commune, Mr. Nguyen Van An's family is growing 8 sao (approximately 0.8 hectares) of chrysanthemums this year, expecting to supply about 100,000 plants to the market during the Lunar New Year.
Mr. An said that after the storms, the weather has become more stable, with less rain, creating favorable conditions for flower growth. However, flower growers should not be complacent, because just one severe cold spell or prolonged rain at the right time could affect the entire flower crop.
Chrysanthemums have long been a familiar flower during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, not only for offering incense or decorating homes, but also because of the meaningful values they represent. Chrysanthemums symbolize longevity, good fortune, and resilience; their bright yellow color evokes warmth and luck, conveying wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful new year. Because of this high demand, as Tet approaches, farmers in the flower fields diligently tend to each chrysanthemum plant, hoping to bring the most beautiful flowers to the market. For flower growers, it's a yearning for a bountiful harvest, so that months of hard work, accumulated experience, and gambles with the weather and market will be rewarded.
