Nghe An countryside grows bitter melon for "huge" income

The fragrant squash variety in Hong Son commune has a different aroma compared to other squash varieties. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Mr. Phan Dang Ba's family in Hamlet 9, Hong Son Commune has been growing luffa for over 10 years. Currently, his family grows more than 1 sao of luffa. Luffa is planted in March, after nearly 2 months it is ready to harvest. Every 2 days, Mr. Ba harvests luffa once, each time about 60 kg, sometimes up to 80 kg; with the wholesale price at the market of 5,000 VND/kg, he earns 300,000 VND/day.

1 sao of squash currently yields about 22 million VND/crop. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Mr. Ba shared his experience in growing high-yield squash: Before planting, you must fertilize with compost, about 60kg of compost per tree; you need to add potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen fertilizers in a balanced way. You must look at the color of the leaves of the plant to fertilize; if the leaves are yellow and there are few shoots, you must add nitrogen; if the leaves are bright and hard, you must stop fertilizing with nitrogen. When there are few fruits, you must increase the amount of potassium to increase the plant's ability to produce fruit.

Each sao only plants about 90 trees, 3m between rows, 2.5m between trees. On hot days, have to prepare a pump to water promptly.

The luffa is grown in Hong Son, the mountainous soil makes the luffa fruit delicious and distinctive.

People growing squash here do not have to spray any pesticides, because the squash has thick skin and grows very quickly. When the fruit is as big as a little finger, it can be harvested after only 5 days.

Currently in hamlet 9, Hong Son commune, there are dozens of households growing squash, with a total area of ​​6 hectares. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Winter melon is harvested continuously for 5 months, of which 2.5 months are harvested regularly. Each sao of winter melon brings in about 22 million VND in revenue during the entire harvest season; it is estimated that with 1 hectare, people earn 450 million VND.

Currently in hamlet 9, Hong Son commune, there are dozens of households growing squash, with a total area of ​​6 hectares.

For many years, people have not expanded the planting area massively but have adjusted according to the sales output; the main purpose is to keep the price from dropping to a low level.

In addition to the area of ​​growing bitter melon, the whole hamlet has 40 households growing bitter melon, many households harvest nearly 100 kg of bitter melon every day, with the garden price of 6,000 VND/kg.To prevent bitter melon plants from being damaged by pests, people use a simple method of using biological bait in a plastic bottle to lure sucking insects that damage the fruit.

In addition to growing squash, people in Hong Son commune also grow bitter melon off-season and use biological bait to lure insects into bottles. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

According to Mr. Phan Dang Son - head of hamlet 9, Hong Son commune, local people have had experience growing squash for many years. Those who have experience and effective production methods often share with other producers. Thanks to that, squash growers all have a high income.

The squash is considered a "specialty" of the mountainous commune of Hong Son. Growing squash and bitter melon is an effective production method, increasing income for local people.