Farmers find ways to cool fruit trees

Faced with the forecast of prolonged heat, Ha Tinh farmers are trying to find many ways to 'cool down' fruit trees to ensure productivity and quality at the end of the season.

At this time, citrus fruit trees such as oranges and grapefruits in Ha Tinh are in the fruit-growing stage. This is the stage that determines the yield, appearance and quality of the product when harvested. In anticipation of prolonged heat, Ha Tinh farmers have proactively implemented drought-proof measures for citrus fruit trees to ensure the yield and quality of the fruit at the end of the season.

The time determines the yield and quality of the fruit.

Mr. Phan Cong Son's family in Nam Phong village, Thuong Loc commune (Can Loc district) has more than 200 crispy orange trees that have been harvested. According to Mr. Son's experience, oranges are a crop that is not drought-resistant. Summer is the period when the tree grows and stores water in the fruit, so if not carefully cared for, it will greatly affect the quality and yield of the fruit.

On extremely hot days, Mr. Phan Cong Son (Nam Phong village, Thuong Loc commune, Can Loc district) has to wake up at 5am to water his oranges. Photo: Anh Nguyet

To achieve high productivity in the orange garden, from the beginning of summer, Mr. Son's family carefully prepared heat-resistant measures for the oranges, such as investing in installing additional irrigation pipes to ensure water can reach the top of the hill, using materials such as grass and mulch for the orange garden, and at the same time applying biological fertilizer to increase resistance and regulate growth for the orange trees.

Mr. Son said: “After the previous harvest, my family collected materials to cover the orange trees during the hot season. We invested nearly 100 million VND to drill 3 wells and buy 3 high-pressure pumps. On extremely hot days, I have to get up at 5am to water the orange trees.”

Mr. Phan Van Son's family's orange garden of more than 400 trees in Anh Hung village (also in Thuong Loc commune) is also in the stage of increasing fruit weight. Mr. Son has covered the fruit to prevent insect invasion and prevent the oranges from being sunburned by the harsh sunlight. Along with using tarps to cover the tree bases, Mr. Son also regularly watered the orange garden to keep it moist during prolonged hot weather.

At this time, in the grapefruit capital of Phuc Trach (Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh), people are also actively taking measures to care for and protect grapefruit gardens that are in the fruit-bearing period. This is the time when grapefruit trees are very sensitive to external conditions, especially needing to meet the requirements for irrigation water and nutrition.

Mr. Tran Van Khan's family in village 8, Huong Thuy commune (Huong Khe district) has more than 400 Phuc Trach grapefruit trees. "To protect the grapefruit garden during the hot season, in addition to proactively providing water and watering the trees regularly, I also prune old branches and leaves, fertilize them in a balanced and appropriate way, and use straw and leaves to cover the roots. In addition, I keep green grass to keep the soil moist during the hot season, especially in conditions of prolonged drought, and at the same time prevent nutrient loss and soil erosion during the rainy season," Mr. Khan shared.

"Clothes" for specialty grapefruit

At this time, most grapefruit growers in Huong Thuy commune are also focusing on taking care of the trees. Since the beginning of May, households have been covering the fruit and up to now, most grapefruit gardens have been covered to prevent pests and diseases and the effects of hot weather. “Phuc Trach grapefruit is currently in the young fruit stage. We have to regularly check the fruit development, focus on pruning branches and reducing the number of fruits on the wrong clusters, small fruits, and crooked fruits to create conditions for the main fruits to grow well. At the same time, we add fertilizer and water the trees so that the grapefruits achieve the best quality,” said Mr. Tran Tien Minh in village 8, Huong Thuy commune.

Ha Tinh currently has about 13,000 hectares of citrus fruit trees, mainly oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, concentrated in the districts of Huong Son, Huong Khe, Vu Quang, Can Loc, and Ky Anh. To protect the fruit tree areas, localities have coordinated with specialized agencies to train people on technical measures to care for and protect fruit trees from the sun and drought.

Master Nguyen Xuan Toan, Head of the Experimental Farm and Production of Aquatic Seedlings, Fruit Trees, Forestry Trees (Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center) recommends that during the prolonged hot weather, people need to cover the base of fruit trees to avoid direct sunlight damaging the roots and evaporating water, cover the fruit and periodically check the fruit every 10-15 days to take measures to handle, prune old branches, branches with pests and branches that exceed the canopy to create an airy canopy for the tree, limiting the hiding places of harmful organisms. Supplement all types of multi- and micro-nutrients to increase fruit weight. In particular, this stage requires adequate and guaranteed watering, watering thoroughly in the morning or late afternoon.

Huong Hoai (According to nongnghiep.vn)

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/129361/Nong-dan-tim-cach-