Growing squash in ponds to cool fish: Win-win situation

(Baoghean.vn) - In Hung Phuc, Hung Chau and Hung Loi communes, Hung Nguyen district, the aquaculture movement is developing strongly. Many households have creatively planted squash trellises right on fish ponds to protect fish from the heat in the summer and at the same time earn high income from squash.

Luffa trellis around the fish pond of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lien's family, hamlet 2, Hung Phuc.

Taking on the contract of 4 sao of rice field right in front of her house, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lien's family in hamlet 2, Hung Phuc commune, renovated it into a fish pond, combined with growing fruit trees and vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, Malabar spinach, Malabar spinach, amaranth, sweet potato leaves, etc. Every day, she earns 150-250 thousand VND from selling vegetables. Making full use of the land area around the pond, Mrs. Lien's family planted hundreds of squash trees, the squash trellis was built right on the pond, not only saving land area but also creating shade, a place for the fish in the pond to avoid the sun on hot summer days.

Luffa seeds are sown from the 10th lunar month. “Luffa planted around the pond has enough moisture, and is well cared for, so it will bloom from January and February until July and August when the rainy season comes. Luffa here is planted early, so the price is usually good at the beginning of the season. Each kg of luffa fruit usually costs 18,000 VND. There are days when 20-30 kg of luffa can be harvested to sell at the market. To make a trellis for luffa on the pond, you must have solid concrete poles to make it long-lasting. The trellis is usually made of bamboo, a one-time investment that can be used for 3 years before having to be redone." - Ms. Lien said.

Watering squash is also easier than getting water from a pond.

With more than ten years of experience growing squash in hamlet 2 Hung Phuc, Mr. Duong Van Phan said that his family used to grow squash in the garden. Therefore, after receiving a contract for 1.5 sao of deep-lying rice fields in front of his garden, he converted them into a fish pond and combined them with growing Malabar spinach, amaranth, etc. He planted hundreds of squash trees on the pond bank, and trellises for squash to climb were built on the pond, saving space. Each year, in addition to harvesting tens of millions of fish, he also earns more than 10 million VND from squash.

The trellis is made of concrete piles by investors so it can be used for a long time.

Making a trellis of squash on the pond not only saves space but also creates shade to protect fish from the sun. This is a creative method that farmers in Hung Nguyen communes have maintained for several years, especially the communes along the Lam River dike. In the summer, along the dike, each trellis of squash blooms with beautiful yellow flowers on the pond.

Hundreds of households in Hung Loi, Hung Chau, Hung Phuc have grown squash this way and besides harvesting carp, grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp... they also harvest squash to sell at My market, Vinh market...

This method simultaneously produces fish and squash.

Thanh Tam