Nghe An farmers' experience in growing off-season squash
Thanh Phuc•DNUM_BJZAJZCACE 08:04
At this time, when green vegetables are scarce, the price of squash is pushed up, 4-5 times higher than in the main season. Many Nghe An farmers make a good profit from off-season squash.
Pumpkin crop is usually planted in June and harvested in September and lasts until the end of October and November every year. Photo: TPGrowing squash off-season is risky due to unfavorable weather conditions, making squash plants difficult to care for and reducing yield compared to the main season. Photo: TPMr. Le Luu Thang, a large pumpkin grower in Vien Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) with experience in growing off-season pumpkins, said: "Growing off-season pumpkins is difficult: At the beginning of the season, there is severe drought, and when flowering and pollination occur, there is rain, so the fruit set rate is low. For many years, when there is a storm and we cannot harvest in time, the pumpkin plants break when the fruit is still young, resulting in a total loss." In the photo: Mr. Thang's area of green pumpkins being harvested. Photo: TPHowever, with many years of experience and a firm grasp of the growth cycle of squash plants, growers like Mr. Thang have their own secrets to having a "sure" squash crop. Photo: TPAccording to Mr. Thang, first of all, the pumpkin crop should choose high ground with little flooding to plant; at the same time, proactively take the initiative in irrigation water; when planting, the seeds must be incubated in advance to shorten the growing time. Time the crop so that the pumpkin will be harvested before the heavy rain and storms, or at least, the fruit will be ripe to avoid damage. Photo: TPWhen making a trellis, instead of the traditional A-shape, make a U-shaped trellis, 2.2m apart, with fixed wire anchors at the beginning, middle and end of the bed, which can withstand rain and wind well. Photo: TPMany households also invest in concrete piles to make trellises, which can be reused many times and also create a strong tie to prevent the squash from falling. Photo: TPCurrently, the pumpkin crop is in harvest season. The current pumpkin price is 18,000-20,000 VND/kg, 2.5 times higher than last year's pumpkin crop and 4-5 times higher than the price of the main pumpkin crop. Photo: TP“Green squash is very expensive at this time. Because summer-autumn squash is not grown by many people due to the harsh climate. This is also the time of changing seasons, so green vegetables are scarce. In addition, this year, storms and floods hit the northern provinces, provinces with large areas of green squash such as Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Bac Can... squash plants were flooded and died. Therefore, squash prices have been pushed up,” said a squash trader in Hoang Mai town. Photo: TPPumpkins are purchased and imported to wholesale markets in Hanoi, Vinh and the southern provinces. This type is easy to preserve and stays fresh for a long time, so it is very popular in the market during the rainy season. Photo: TP
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