Making billions from a hanging strawberry garden...

Instead of planting them in the ground or on trellises, the New Zealand strawberry variety grown by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc (42 years old), residing in Trai Mat, Ward 11, Da Lat City (Lam Dong province), is planted in rows more than 1 meter above the ground.

This innovative farming technique helped him earn billions of dong.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc stands beside his hanging strawberry garden. Photo: Internet

Stepping into Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc's garden, even the most discerning agricultural professional would surely be amazed. Rows of strawberries hang straight and high in the air, each more than 1 meter above the ground, bearing an abundance of fruit.

For several months now, the strawberries grown on a 9,000m2 plot have consistently yielded 40-150kg of fruit daily, depending on the season. They sell for an average price of 150,000-200,000 VND/kg at the farm. Over the course of the year, his family earns over a billion VND in profit.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc learned this technique of growing strawberries suspended in the air from countries with developed agriculture. According to him, this method of growing strawberries is quite effective: Firstly, it saves land and increases the number of plants per area. Secondly, it helps isolate pathogens from the soil. Thirdly, it reduces investment costs such as fertilizers because nutrients do not seep into the soil, and there is no need to spray pesticides because the plants are virtually free from pests and diseases. Fourthly, it produces clean, high-quality fruit. Fifthly, harvesting is convenient and easy!...".

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc harvesting strawberries. Photo: Internet

Since 2013, Mr. Truc has boldly converted 500 square meters of land previously used for growing chrysanthemums to experiment with growing strawberries using an aerial cultivation technique. According to this farmer, hanging rows of strawberries requires a very sturdy greenhouse with a strong iron frame, over 5 meters high, well-ventilated, and an investment cost of over 200 million VND per 1,000 square meters. The strawberry rows are secured with iron frames covered in plastic.

The growing medium is not soil, but rather finely ground coconut fiber, composted with organic fertilizer. Fertilizer and nutrients are mixed with water and delivered to each strawberry plant through an automatic irrigation system. This system operates 8-10 times daily, delivering water and nutrients to the plants. Any unused water, fertilizer, or other nutrients are returned to a storage tank for reuse, preventing waste and significantly reducing production costs.

Initially, Mr. Truc's family's strawberry plants grew unevenly despite strictly adhering to production techniques. Later, Mr. Truc suspected that the water from the drilled well might be the reason for the unsatisfactory growth, so he took water samples to the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute for analysis.

The results showed that some active substances in well water drilled too deep underground were detrimental to the plants, causing the strawberry plants to grow unevenly.

To eliminate the aforementioned problem, Mr. Truc's family switched entirely to irrigation using tap water. Although using tap water, it is not costly because the water used for the hanging strawberry cultivation method does not seep into the soil. Unused water is collected through the system and reused.

Mr. Truc shared that the most difficult aspect of growing hanging strawberries is determining the right nutritional regime for the plants. Each season requires different levels of nutrients. Accurately identifying the plant's nutritional needs requires sensitivity, meticulousness, and extensive experience. The nutritional regime will determine the plant's healthy growth.

Thanks to the ability to "catch" diseases through nutrition and isolate pathogens through vacuum, Mr. Truc's hanging strawberry garden has rarely been infected with harmful diseases in recent years, even though this type of crop is quite sensitive to weather conditions.

Since 2013, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truc's family has continuously expanded their strawberry cultivation area. All strawberries are grown in a suspended system, approximately 1.3 meters above the ground. The planting density is about 1,200 plants per 1,000 square meters in the greenhouse. In addition to a drip irrigation system that delivers water directly to the roots, fans and misting systems are used to cool the plants. The ideal temperature for strawberry growth and development is below 16°C.

According to Mr. Truc, for this type of crop, the colder the weather, the more fruit it produces and the higher the quality. Strawberry plants begin to bear fruit regularly about 45 days after planting. Each crop produces fruit for about 12 months before needing to be replaced with new seedlings. Mr. Truc's family's fresh strawberries are imported by several partners to supply supermarkets, restaurants, and other establishments.

According to Agriculture