Lotus grows in sunny and windy lands. Talking to VietNamNet , Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong - representative of the Bac's Hometown Lotus Cooperative (Nam Dan District, Nghe An) shared her experience in planting and harvesting lotus flowers in this land. Ms. Hong said that if the northern provinces harvest lotus flowers starting in April, in Nghe An - where the temperature is always 3 - 4 degrees Celsius higher than other regions, lotus can be harvested in March. The lotus plant's characteristics of fast or slow growth depend on warm or cold weather.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong directly went down to the lake to harvest lotus.

This year's weather is not favorable for lotus growth, with alternating hot and cold temperatures. When the native lotus plants begin to sprout, they will continue to hibernate when the weather turns cold (for lotus with tubers - PV). When it's time to harvest, Nghe An has Lao wind (Southwest Foehn wind), making lotus harvesting more difficult than in other areas. Therefore, harvesting lotus in this place requires its own secret.

A lotus pond in harvest season

Lotus harvesters have to wake up at 4am and pick until nearly 7am. “When the sun has not yet risen, we have to harvest early, avoid the heat, ensure the lotus flowers do not lose water and especially avoid the Lao wind. The Lao wind is very dry, becoming a 'specialty' of Nghe An, so the lotus plants also have to suffer the same fate” - Ms. Hong said about the way to harvest lotus in the early morning.

Women go to harvest lotus from early morning

Lotus harvesters, when picking flowers into bunches, must use lotus leaves to wrap the entire flower head. In other regions, harvesting lotus like this is successful. However, in Nghe An, after picking, the pickers must wrap them in specialized bags, otherwise the leaves and lotus flowers will dry out when they are brought to shore. When bringing the lotus to the production facility, the pickers must quickly put the entire lotus in a large bucket of water, and at the same time cover it with a wet cloth. The time for covering and soaking in water lasts about 120 minutes. After that, they are arranged and delivered to customers.

Lotus flowers blooming in the middle of the lake

“Customers who receive lotus flowers need to take care of them for a while by using a sharp knife to cut the lotus stem diagonally and put it in a large bucket of water. This helps the lotus absorb water faster and bloom as desired. When arranging flowers, people need to use a large, wide vase that can hold a lot of water. Adding a little ice water to the vase will help the flowers stay fresh and bloom more fully” - Ms. Hong shared about the secret to arranging lotus flowers. Proud of lotus flowers Ms. Nguyen Thi Chung - a lotus picker for the past 5 years at the Sen Que Bac Cooperative shared that when she first started working, she only thought there were pink and white lotuses. However, after a long time working at the cooperative, she learned that there are hundreds of types. Each type of lotus has its own characteristics, suitable for each purpose of use. There are types of flowers that are only for decoration; there are types that are only used for leaves, flowers for tea; shoots for food or roots for dishes, processed into starch.

Pick lotus early in the morning to avoid the harsh summer sun

“Lotus pickers have to wake up early to avoid the heat. Every day picking lotus flowers, we earn 300,000 - 350,000 VND. On weekends and holidays, our income is higher than usual. When we go down to the lotus pond in the morning, the air is fresh and the lotus scent is very pleasant, unlike any other flower,” Ms. Chung confided. Ms. Tran Thi Ha, who has picked lotus flowers for many years, said that since the cooperative was established to grow and care for lotus flowers, she has had more daily income to support her children’s education. In addition, she is very proud of her hometown’s landscape. “In the past, the dams were left empty to let duckweed grow. Since the lotus has covered the area, people around can feel the fresh air, the beauty of the lotus and raise awareness of environmental protection. We are increasingly proud that many places in the province have lotus flowers blooming in the summer,” Ms. Ha added.
The lotus bouquet after being brought home will be soaked in a large vat of water.

Freshly harvested lotus flowers must be wrapped with leaves.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong shared that doing any job requires love and responsibility for her work. She was born in Hung Yen - a countryside with vast lotus fields. Since childhood, she has known how to pick lotus with her family at the village entrance. "My grandparents and parents have known how to make lotus tea for the family for many years. When I was little, I followed my siblings to dig lotus roots..." - Ms. Hong recalled her childhood memories associated with lotus.

Lotus flowers bloom beautifully when placed in a large vase of water.

According to Ms. Hong, initially, growing lotus on a large scale in Nghe An encountered many difficulties due to unfavorable weather conditions. However, when the seedlings took root and developed, the lotus flowers here were different. “The lotus leaves, lotus flowers, lotus scent… give off a very special scent that no other region has. It is the harsh weather that helps the lotus grow and bloom, creating the characteristic flavor of Nghe An land,” Ms. Hong confided.