Peach blossom villages in Nghe An are busy tending to their trees in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year).

With over 30 years of experience in peach tree cultivation, Mr. Phan Tat Giap (Kim Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district) is well-versed in the timing of leaf stripping to ensure the peach blossoms bloom in time for Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Giap stated: “For light pink peach blossoms, we strip the leaves 70 days before Tet, and for dark pink peach blossoms, we strip them 60 days before Tet. That's the general formula, but the weather varies each year, so we have to adjust accordingly based on the actual situation. This year, the cold weather came later, so we had to strip the leaves later as well.”

"We expect the peach trees to shed their leaves by the end of October in the lunar calendar. Currently, we are focusing on pruning old leaves, removing dry branches, and caring for the trees. My family grows native peach blossoms and sells the branches, so we are now starting to strip the leaves from the young branches to nourish the buds. At the same time, we are completing the final fertilization to help the trees develop buds and shoots."

According to Mr. Giap's experience, the process of stripping leaves from each peach tree varies depending on its age; on each tree, young, weak branches should be stripped first, followed by pruning of older, stronger branches. This is because long, young branches usually flower later than short, old branches.

This year, the forecast predicts a late cold spell and slightly higher temperatures than in previous years, so gardeners have made plans to delay the early blooming of peach blossoms. Nguyen Trong Tien, a peach tree grower in Kim Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district), said: “At this time, peach growers are already busy. From determining the age of the peach trees to deciding when to remove the leaves based on the weather, in previous years, we would start turning over the trees and girdling the bark in July or August to ensure the flowers bloom in time for Tet. However, this year, due to the leap year, the cold spell came later, and the weather is warmer, so we only turn over the trees in early September and girdle the bark in mid-October.”

This year, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang (Thanh Linh commune, Thanh Chuong district) is taking care of 50 peach trees for customers and tending to 100 peach blossom trees that are now in their second year for sale during Tet (Lunar New Year). By the beginning of September in the lunar calendar, Mr. Thang hired people to transplant the peach trees by digging up the root ball 20-25 cm away from the base and 20-25 cm deep (depending on the size of the tree), then securing the roots and filling the soil back in.

Mr. Thang said: "The purpose of digging up the root ball is to stabilize the peach tree's root system. When transplanted into a pot for acclimatization, the tree won't be weakened, it will produce more buds, the flowers will bloom right on Tet (Lunar New Year), and it will last longer. Many trees, after being dug up, have their leaves stripped and are immediately transferred to pots for acclimatization; some trees nurtured in the garden haven't had their leaves stripped yet."

Regarding pruning peach trees, the main task now is trimming away excess and dry branches to create an arch. “It will be about 15-20 days before we start stripping the leaves. Stripping the leaves isn't simple either; it requires observation and understanding the tree's health. Generally, from now until Tet (Lunar New Year), those of us who care for and cultivate peach trees will be in full swing, working from morning till night without a break,” Thang added.

During this period, peach growers in Nghi Lien and Nghi Duc communes (Vinh City), Nghi Huong commune (Cua Lo town), and those growing pink peach blossoms in Nam Anh, Nam Xuan, Nam Nghia, Nam Thai, and Nam Hung communes (Nam Dan district) are also urgently preparing for the Tet peach blossom season. In the orchards on the hills and in the gardens, in addition to the main family laborers, many gardens also have to hire extra workers to dig up the soil, prune the roots, trim branches, and remove old leaves.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Hung, an agricultural officer in Nam Xuan commune: "Caring for peach trees is a year-round task, from after the 15th day of the first lunar month until Tet (Lunar New Year). However, the busiest time is from October to the end of the twelfth lunar month. This is the crucial period that determines whether the peach trees will have many buds and blossoms, and whether they will bloom in time for Tet. It all depends on whether the care is done correctly, including how to control and encourage flowering..."

Peach cultivation has been a long-standing tradition for people in many rural areas of Nghe An province. The peach tree is not only a key crop for household gardening but also a brand for many localities within the province. In recent years, despite unpredictable weather, thanks to years of experience in planting and caring for peach trees, Nghe An's peach blossoms continue to thrive. Although it's only October in the lunar calendar, traders from many places have already visited the orchards, surveyed prices, and prepared to supply the market for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Thanh Phuc