Quynh Luu earns high income from growing Japanese spinach.

(Baonghean.vn) - Recently, people in Quynh Luong commune (Quynh Luu district) have been experimentally planting spinach of Japanese origin on some areas. After harvesting, this spinach variety has brought the local people a huge income.

Ms. Bui Thi Thin's family in Hamlet 1, Quynh Luong Commune, cultivates 3 sao (approximately 0.3 hectares) of various vegetables, but due to the hot weather, they can only grow heat-tolerant spring onions. Therefore, in order to diversify crops and increase value per unit area, in April 2017, her family was selected by the local authorities to conduct a pilot project planting spinach imported from Japan.

With an area of ​​1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters), she planned for 36 square meters.²"I sowed spinach seeds; after 45 days of care, I harvested the first crop. 'Spinach is grown and cared for like other vegetables, however, because this variety prefers cold weather, it needs frequent watering. The plant grows very quickly, with large, green leaves and high yield. When harvested, I was surprised by how valuable this vegetable variety was, with only 36 square meters of land."²"It has generated an income of over 2.5 million VND," Ms. Thin shared.

Ms. Bui Thi Thin from Quynh Luong commune (Quynh Luu district) is delighted to harvest spinach, a high-value crop. Photo: Viet Hung

Nine households in Quynh Luong commune participated in the pilot spinach cultivation project.with a total area of ​​360m²²After harvesting their first crop of vegetables, all households confirmed the high economic value they received.

Mr. Ho Duc Nhat, a spinach farmer, said that although he only planted spinach on a trial basis of 36 square meters,²In each household, it yields an income 2-3 times higher than growing other vegetables; currently, the market price is 18,000-20,000 VND/kg.

Spinach is a new crop in Quynh Luu district, currently selling for 18,000 - 20,000 VND/kg on the market. Photo: Viet Hung

According to locals, spinach is a cold-climate vegetable widely grown in countries like Japan and South Korea. It thrives at temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Spinach prefers moderate sunlight but can tolerate shade, so it can be intercropped with taller plants for additional shade. It can be harvested when the plant has 5-7 mature leaves.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tue, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luong commune, said that spinach was grown on a trial basis from last winter to this summer. Evaluations showed that spinach grown in the summer yielded higher productivity and value. To ensure product output, the locality has partnered with Bibigreen Company in Vinh City to purchase the produce from farmers. To promote the brand of clean vegetables to customers and to get the product into large supermarkets, the commune has educated households on how to care for and protect the crops according to proper procedures.

Because it was a pilot project to promote the product to customers, the farmers planted the spinach in a staggered pattern to ensure a constant supply. In the photo: Mr. Ho Duc Nhat next to his family's spinach patch.

Having proven the effectiveness of spinach cultivation, Quynh Luong will continue to seek markets to expand the cultivated area, replace less efficient crops, and increase economic efficiency per unit area.

Viet Hung