The village of yellow apricot blossoms during Tet season.

( ABO) The Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024 is fast approaching, and since the last months of the year, the festive atmosphere has been present in the yellow apricot blossom gardens in Xuan Dong commune, Cho Gao district, Tien Giang province. Gardeners are busy tending to their apricot trees, hoping for a beautiful and bountiful harvest for the Tet holiday.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Phat, from An Lac Thuong hamlet, Xuan Dong commune, Cho Gao district, takes care of his yellow apricot blossom trees.

During a visit to Xuan Dong commune, we experienced the bustling atmosphere of the yellow apricot blossom gardens in An Lac Thuong hamlet. We visited the garden of Mr. Nguyen Tan Phat in An Lac Thuong hamlet, which covers nearly 2,000 square meters ^and houses hundreds of yellow apricot trees, ranging from 1 to 5 years old, meticulously cared for by him.

To supply the market for ornamental flowers during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024, Mr. Phat has prepared nearly 200 potted and planted apricot blossom trees. More than a month ago, using his experience, he prepared the necessary steps to help the apricot blossoms develop many buds, bloom beautifully, and open at the right time. Currently, traders have already come to Mr. Phat's garden to place orders for yellow apricot blossoms for the Tet holiday, promising a bountiful harvest.

Mr. Phat is tending to his yellow apricot blossom garden in preparation for the 2024 Lunar New Year.

Mr. Phat said: Yellow apricot blossoms are considered one of the symbolic flowers of Tet (Vietnamese New Year), because they are the "soul" that creates the Tet atmosphere, so they are very popular with people. Those who buy apricot blossoms always prefer trees with large flowers, many buds, a vibrant yellow color, and especially those that bloom exactly on New Year's Eve. However, apricot trees are sensitive to weather, requiring growers to have a thorough understanding of cultivation techniques to care for and treat them promptly so that they bloom at the right time for Tet. Therefore, to ensure that yellow apricot blossoms bloom at the right time and beautifully, from the 10th to the 15th of December in the lunar calendar, gardeners begin removing leaves and pruning branches.

According to Mr. Phat, last year, the weather was unfavorable, with intense heat and unseasonal rains, causing the apricot blossoms to bloom slightly earlier than Tet. However, this year the weather is more favorable, the dry season arrived early, the sun wasn't too harsh, and there were fewer unseasonal rains, so the percentage of apricot blossoms blooming early is quite low. However, this year is a leap year, so he has to fertilize and spray pesticides to prevent the apricot blossoms from blooming too early. Currently, all the yellow apricot trees in Mr. Phat's garden are developing well, and he predicts a much higher percentage will bloom on time for Tet than last year. With an average price of 2-4 million VND per tree, Mr. Phat hopes to sell over 100 trees during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024.

The apricot blossom garden of Ms. Phan Thi My Huong's family, Xuan Dong commune, Cho Gao district.

Leaving Mr. Phat's apricot blossom garden, we visited Ms. Phan Thi My Huong's apricot blossom garden, also one of the first farmers in Xuan Dong commune to boldly switch from low-yield coconut cultivation to apricot blossom cultivation. Meeting Ms. Huong tending to her apricot blossoms, she shared: "Currently, I have over 100 apricot blossom trees in my garden. Every year during the Lunar New Year, my family, like other apricot blossom growers in Xuan Dong commune, transports the trees to the flower market to sell, or welcomes traders to the garden to buy apricot blossoms. Here, every household grows apricot blossoms, whether a lot or a little. In the spring, apricot blossoms bloom all over the village, making the Tet atmosphere even more joyful. But when the apricot blossoms sell at a good price, the people are even more delighted."

Thanks to dedicated care and years of experience in cultivating yellow apricot blossoms, the apricot blossom gardens in Xuan Dong commune are always thriving, ensuring a consistent supply for the market every Tet (Lunar New Year) season. Chairman of the Xuan Dong Commune People's Committee, Nguyen Van Muoi, stated: "The cultivation of yellow apricot blossoms in the commune has existed for decades. Previously, it was a refined hobby, but over time, people's demand for ornamental plants has become increasingly diverse, especially during the traditional Tet holiday, when yellow apricot blossoms are indispensable in every home. This year, farmers in Xuan Dong commune have planted over 30 hectares with tens of thousands of yellow apricot blossom trees to serve the 2024 Lunar New Year. Currently, farmers are pruning young branches and supplementing nutrients to ensure the apricot blossoms are beautiful and long-lasting for Tet."

Mr. Phat is tending to his family's yellow apricot blossom garden in preparation for the 2024 Lunar New Year.

According to our observations, wholesale buyers of yellow apricot blossom trees are currently paying an average price ranging from 500,000 VND to 5 million VND per tree, depending on the variety. Thanks to the suitable soil conditions, the yellow apricot blossom trees grown by gardeners in Xuan Dong commune always thrive, producing beautiful, long-lasting flowers, contributing to the festive atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year). This attracts not only locals but also traders from within and outside Tien Giang province to place orders, creating the "apricot blossom village" brand of Xuan Dong.

With the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024 fast approaching, the people of Xuan Dong commune, known as the "yellow apricot blossom village," are always proud to have cultivated beautiful, high-quality yellow apricot blossom trees. These trees not only provide them with a high income during the transition between the old and new year but also contribute to making the spring season even more beautiful.

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Source: http://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202312/lang-mai-vang-vao-vu-tet-999798/