Bringing spring down from the mountain.

In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), peach tree farmers in the highlands of Da Bac, Phu Tho province, were bustling with activity, "bringing spring down from the mountains." Each ancient peach tree and bonsai branch was carefully nurtured and tended to before being loaded onto trucks, traversing mountain passes and descending into the lowlands, carrying the spring colors of the mountains and forests to the cities.

The peach orchards in Da Bac are bustling with buyers who will take them back to the lowlands to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year).

For many years, the mountainous region of Da Bac has been famous for its ancient peach blossom trees, renowned among peach blossom enthusiasts. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, unique soil, cool climate, and large temperature differences between day and night, the peach blossoms here possess a distinctive beauty. Taking advantage of these factors and understanding market demand, the locals have propagated these ancient trees, cultivating and developing wild peach blossoms. Peach trees are planted around houses, on fields, and along hillsides, not only creating a unique beauty for the highland villages but also gradually becoming a crop that brings sustainable economic value. The Da Bac peach variety is mainly selected from high mountain areas with harsh climates. These special growing conditions have resulted in peach trees with natural shapes, ancient mossy trunks, strong branches, large buds, evenly blooming flowers, and a gentle, pale pink hue.

Mr. Tran Thien Tu, owner of Thanh Tu peach orchard in Da Bac commune, said: “Every year, about 60 days before the harvest, we prune, shape, and provide special care to ensure the trees bloom in time for Tet (Lunar New Year). The ideal temperature for peach trees to develop and bloom beautifully is around 20°C. This work requires meticulousness and great patience. Removing leaves at the right time plays a crucial role, because when the leaves are removed, nutrients will concentrate on nourishing the buds, helping the flowers bloom evenly, last longer, and at the right time during the transition between seasons.” To obtain unique, beautifully shaped peach trees, growers must strictly adhere to the technical process: After the last pruning in early July of the lunar calendar, the trees are fertilized with phosphorus to stimulate flower bud differentiation; in August of the lunar calendar, the peach trees are treated with growth regulators, repeatedly until the tree stops vegetative growth and begins to form buds. 50-60 days before Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), depending on the size of the buds and weather conditions, gardeners will remove the leaves to concentrate nutrients on the flowers.

Many gardeners believe that the favorable weather at the end of last year, along with meticulous care, resulted in more beautiful peach blossoms with vibrant colors, thick petals, large flowers, and healthy buds. Thanh Tu's peach garden alone boasts over 100 ancient peach trees, with prices ranging from 2 to 10 million VND per tree; many rare, beautifully shaped trees are priced from 20 to 30 million VND per tree, or even higher. Peach enthusiasts from all over have frequently visited the garden to directly select, buy, or rent peach trees.

Not just limited to household-scale farming, over the years, the mountainous commune of Da Bac has developed a concentrated peach-growing area with more than 20 large orchards, totaling over 5 hectares. The entire commune now has approximately 5,000 peach trees of various types, mainly pink, red, and white varieties. The orchards are constantly innovating and proactively researching consumer preferences. Emphasis is placed on shaping and styling the trees to suit the spaces of homes, offices, agencies, and businesses. As a result, Da Bac peaches are increasingly favored by the market. Selling peaches for Tet (Lunar New Year) is no longer just a seasonal occupation but has become an economic model, contributing to increased income and improved material and spiritual lives for the local people.

At the peach blossom display and sales area in Hoa Binh Square, Hoa Binh Ward, trucks carrying peach blossoms from the highlands arrive early to serve the Tet holiday. Mr. Luong Van Duy, owner of the Huy Hoang peach blossom garden in Da Bac commune, shared: “According to tradition, around the 10th day of the 12th lunar month, my family starts bringing peach blossoms down to sell. This past Tet season, my family had about 350 ornamental peach blossom trees, mainly serving the mid-range customer segment, priced from 2-5 million VND per tree. Popular styles include dragon, cascading, and pine shapes – which are both auspicious in feng shui and suitable for display during Tet.”

Duy added that every spring, as Tet approaches, families mobilize their relatives and friends to participate in selling peach blossoms. Because they have been selling for many years, they have a certain number of regular customers. In addition, many traders and customers learn about the product through social media platforms, making buying and selling easier. Some agencies and businesses also rent peach blossoms for Tet, returning them to the growers for care after the holiday, creating a stable source of income for peach blossom growers.

Not only in Da Bac, but also in neighboring highland communes like Cao Son, the activity is equally bustling. Many households have developed large-scale peach tree cultivation models, mainly focusing on wild peaches, pink peaches, and ornamental peaches. This highland peach tree cultivation model not only brings clear economic benefits but also contributes to preserving native peach varieties, protecting the ecological landscape, and linking agricultural production with the preservation of traditional culture.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the villages in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), along the winding village roads, convoys of trucks of all sizes made their way to the peach orchards. Large, beautiful peach trees and branches were transported downstream, bringing with them the spring colors of the Northwest mountains.

Text and photos: HAO THUY

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mang-xuan-xuong-nui-post945282.html