Growing bitter melon in alternating seasons, income 20 million/sao

(Baonghean.vn) - In recent years,Farmers in Quynh Lien commune, Hoang Mai town (Nghe An) develop a model of growing mBitter melon, can be harvested all year round, has high economic efficiency. Average yield is 2 tons/sao, bringing average income of 20 million/sao.

For the past two years, Mr. Nguyen Van Cong’s family in village 1, Quynh Lien commune has been growing bitter melon on an area of ​​1 sao. This is a crop that is suitable for the loose, airy, and moist sandy soil of the locality, so it grows well. However, this crop is often affected by pests and diseases, and is prone to wilting and root rot.

To help bitter melon grow well, Mr. Cong focuses on applying the right techniques from soaking seeds, planting in ash pots to tilling the soil, making beds, placing vines, cutting off tops and fertilizing properly... In addition to using organic fertilizer combined with manure as base fertilizer, when the melon has 4-5 leaves, apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. The melon trellis is made over 1.5m high to create an airy space for the plant to absorb sunlight.

Currently, Quynh Lien farmers are harvesting off-season bitter melon.

Bitter melon is grown all year round in the form of alternating crops; each year, there can be two main crops (starting from September) and off-season crops from the third lunar month. The growth period of bitter melon is only 2-3 months, the harvest period lasts half a year. Thanks to the application of care measures, his family's bitter melon garden has grown very well. Bitter melon yield reaches 2 tons/sao, selling price is 10,000/1kg -12,000/1kg; income reaches over 20 million/1sao.

Off-season bitter melon variety has the ability to adapt to hot weather conditions and a short growing period, can be harvested after about 60 days; yield reaches 2 tons/ha

At this time, Quynh Lien farmers are harvesting off-season bitter melon. Bitter melon plants can be harvested after about 60 days. Mr. Dau Van Thuc's family, village 9, Quynh Lien commune, grows 6 sao of off-season bitter melon. Thanks to a guaranteed water source and proper care according to technical instructions, the off-season yield is equivalent to the main crop (reaching 2 tons/sao). Off-season bitter melons are very easy to sell, and traders come to the fields to buy them. It is estimated that this year's bitter melon crop, Mr. Thuc's family earned 120 million VND.

Quynh Lien bitter melon has a good price, traders buy it right from the garden

Currently, in Quynh Lien commune, Hoang Mai town, there are nearly 20 hectares of bitter melon. Among vegetables, bitter melon is a crop with high economic value, so Quynh Lien farmers plant it in alternating seasons. On 1 sao of land, people can plant green beans first, when the beans start to climb the trellis, they will plant bitter melon. After harvesting the beans, the bitter melon will start to climb the trellis.

In other areas, after harvesting short-term vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and green onions, people continue to plant bitter melon. The areas will be rotated throughout the year, thereby increasing income per unit area.

As a crop with high economic efficiency, farmers in Quynh Lien, Hoang Mai town are increasingly expanding the area of ​​bitter melon cultivation. Currently, the whole commune has nearly 20 hectares of bitter melon cultivation.

Mr. Ho Ngoc Tang - Chairman of Quynh Lien Commune said: In order for the model of growing bitter melon in alternating seasons to become a strength for local economic development, Quynh Lien Commune has coordinated with the Town's Agricultural Extension Station to organize training courses to transfer science and technology in growing bitter melon to the people. In the coming time, the commune will plan to develop this crop to replace some ineffective crops.

Nguyen Thanh Thuy

Hoang Mai Radio Station