Quynh Luu farmers take care of peach blossoms for Tet

(Baonghean.vn) – With just over half a month left until the Lunar New Year of the Rooster, peach blossom garden owners in Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu) are actively taking care of and pruning the branches so that the flowers will bloom in time for Tet.

This is the 8th year that Mr. Le Van Luan's family in Hamlet 2, Quynh Thang has grown peach blossoms to sell during Tet. With an area of ​​over 1 hectare of mountainous land, he has developed the peach blossom growing business with hundreds of trees each year.

Peach garden of nearly 400 trees of Mr. Le Van Luan's family in hamlet 2, Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu).

Mr. Luan said that about 10 years ago, peach blossoms were planted in some households' gardens, but at that time peach blossoms were not popular so the price was very cheap. By 2000, peach blossoms were used by many people during Tet and became an indispensable flower in the house every time Tet and spring came. From that need, in 2011, Mr. Luan brought some peach trees from other places to plant and propagate. Up to now, in his family's garden, there are about 400 peach trees growing well. It is estimated that if the weather is favorable, his family will earn over 100 million VND from selling peach trees.

“This year, my family has prepared about 200 trees to sell during Tet, including 150 potted trees and 50 branches cut from the roots. What is more exciting is that this year the weather is favorable, so taking care of and stimulating flowering is easier. If it is not cold from now until the full moon of January, the 200 peach trees above will produce beautiful flowers and buds, and the price will also be higher,” said Mr. Luan.

Mr. Luan said that the weather is warm and sunny so the care will be later than in cold weather. However, with many years of experience, during Tet, the peach garden always produces beautiful flowers.

According to peach blossom growers, to have peach blossoms bloom on time for Tet, it is necessary to take proper care of them; regularly monitor the weather to prune the trees. In warm weather, care should be taken later, and in cold weather, care should be taken earlier.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - a peach blossom grower in Quynh Thang said that peach trees are planted from the end of January to the beginning of February of the lunar calendar. In April and May, the bad branches at the base will be pruned to nourish the upper branches; in July and August, the branches that are too high will continue to be cut, and the canopy will be trimmed to make it even. Starting at the end of November, all the leaves will be stripped to allow the tree to flower and produce new buds. If it is cold at this time, warm water must be used to water the flowers so that they can quickly bud.

“More than 100 peach trees of the family are now budding, new shoots are growing evenly, with this growth rate, around the 20th lunar month the peach trees will bud and bloom beautifully,” said Mr. Hung.

In the days before Tet, the peach blossom village of Quynh Thang commune is bustling with people and vehicles coming to buy peach trees. Beautiful peach trees, ensuring all three factors including: buds, flowers and shoots, will be purchased by traders at a very high price from 1.5 million to 2 million VND/tree, the rest have an average price from 500 thousand VND to 1 million VND/tree.

Mr. Ho Nghia Manh, a peach blossom buyer, said that although Tet is still half a month away, we have to go to the flower garden owner to place an order in advance. Around the 20th or 22nd of Tet, we will come to transport the peach blossoms to districts, cities, and towns in the province to sell.

With favorable and fertile land, currently in Quynh Thang commune, there are about 100 households growing peach trees, with thousands of trees. Of which, the most are grown in hamlets 1 and 2. Bordering the area is the mountainous commune of Tan Thang, which is also an area with a lot of peach trees, with a few households growing about 5 trees, while many have over 100 trees. If peach trees bloom right on Tet, it will bring people a fairly large source of income.

Viet Hung