Phuc Khanh in spring

Phuc Khanh village in Thac Ba commune is one of the famous flower-growing villages in Lao Cai province. Every spring, the villagers are busy tending to the vibrant flower fields, carefully watching over the plants to ensure they bloom at the right time, hoping for a bountiful spring and a successful Tet holiday.

The flower beds are growing and developing well, ready to supply the market for the Lunar New Year.

These days, the atmosphere in the flower gardens of Phuc Khanh village, Thac Ba commune, is more bustling than ever. As the Tet flower season enters its crucial stage, people are present in the gardens from early morning until late afternoon, focusing on caring for and monitoring each stage of the flowers' growth. Some are weeding and tilling the soil; others are mixing fertilizer and watering; and still others are carefully inspecting each flower bed to promptly detect pests and diseases and adjust care techniques accordingly.

According to many flower growers, even a slight oversight during this period can cause the flowers to bloom too early or too late, directly affecting their quality and selling price. Therefore, every day is carefully calculated, from the amount of water and fertilizer to adjusting the light and temperature, so that the flowers bloom in time for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Under the early morning sun, the flowerbeds burst with life, interspersed with the green of the leaves, reflecting the diligent work of the villagers – those who have been involved in flower cultivation for many years. For them, this is not just a means of livelihood, but also a preparation for a bountiful spring, imbuing each flower with hope for a successful Tet (Lunar New Year) harvest.

The locals tend to the flowers every morning.

Mr. Bui Quy Cao, head of Phuc Khanh village, Thac Ba commune, said: About 15 years ago, when flowers were still a relatively new crop in Phuc Khanh, some households in the village boldly converted their rice paddy land to flower cultivation.

Initially, flower cultivation faced many difficulties due to a lack of experience and technical skills. The villagers learned as they went along, gaining experience and simultaneously studying traditional flower-growing regions in the lowlands. Today, flower cultivation has become a familiar livelihood for many households in the village.

The story of those early days of cultivating flowers is still recounted by the people of Phuc Khanh as a memorable milestone in the local area's crop restructuring process.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Thanh, one of the households with a long history of flower cultivation in Phuc Khanh village, said: “Initially, my family only planted a few rows to test the market. After a few successful harvests, seeing that the flowers thrived in the soil and were easy to sell, my family boldly expanded the area. With one harvest per year, flower cultivation has brought in tens of millions of dong in income, helping my family's life become increasingly prosperous.”

Besides the flower beds for the Tet market, Nguyen Duy Thanh's family also sells fresh flowers on the 15th and 1st days of the lunar month.

Unlike many crops that are grown year-round, flowers in Phuc Khanh are mainly cultivated in one main season to serve the Tet (Lunar New Year) market. Every year, around the ninth lunar month, the locals begin planting.

The flower varieties are carefully selected, mainly imported from famous flower-growing regions like Me Linh, and then planted in individual family gardens. From soil preparation, fertilization, pest control, to adjusting the flowering time, everything requires careful planning.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Thanh, the most difficult aspect of growing flowers is timing them to bloom at the right time. If the weather changes unexpectedly, growers must flexibly adjust the care regimen so that the flowers do not bloom too early or too late.

Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, flowers in Phuc Khanh grow and develop well, with large blooms and vibrant colors.

It is this meticulousness and patience that has made Phuc Khanh flowers increasingly popular in the market. The flowers bloom evenly, have large blossoms, and vibrant colors are advantages that attract traders to the fields to buy them every year leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

At Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai's garden, flower cultivation has been maintained for over 15 years. Each year, her family sells between 100,000 and 140,000 flower plants, mainly to serve the Tet (Lunar New Year) market.

Through each season, Ms. Hai gradually became familiar with the growth rhythm of the flowers, understanding each stage of care and every sign of change in the plants so that she could adjust accordingly. For her, growing flowers is not simply a job, but has become a joy and a lasting commitment over the years.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai (in brown shirt) next to the flower beds.

"Each flower that blooms just in time for Tet (Lunar New Year) is the result of months of care and cultivation. If you don't love flowers, you really wouldn't have the patience to grow and care for them. Seeing the flowers beautiful and selling them at a good price, all the hard work feels worthwhile!" - Ms. Hai shared.

It is their love for flowers that helps flower growers like Ms. Hai overcome unfavorable weather conditions or fluctuating markets, continuing to keep the vibrant colors of flowers blooming in the villages along the Thac Ba River.

Currently, the entire Phuc Khanh village has more than 20 households growing flowers, with the cultivated area constantly expanding. Thanks to suitable soil conditions and a relatively favorable climate, flowers grown in Phuc Khanh thrive, producing large blooms with vibrant colors. Among the various types of flowers grown, chrysanthemums occupy the largest area due to their ease of cultivation, marketability, and suitability to the local people's production conditions. Besides chrysanthemums, there are also peonies and several other flower varieties, contributing to the richness of the flower fields here. Compared to traditional crops, flowers provide a stable income, helping many families improve their living standards and providing them with more resources for production investment.

People are delighted because the weather this year has been favorable.

A new day in Phuc Khanh flower village, Thac Ba.

Mr. Bui Quy Cao, Head of Phuc Khanh village, added: “The village hopes to continue receiving attention and support in the future regarding planting techniques, care, and pest control for flowers, especially in the context of increasingly unpredictable weather. In addition, support in connecting with consumers and building stable outlets for the products is also a great aspiration of the villagers, in order to avoid complete dependence on traders during peak seasons.”

"If there is comprehensive investment in technology, plant varieties, and markets, the flower cultivation industry in Phuc Khanh will have the conditions for more sustainable development, contributing to increased income, creating stable jobs for people, and gradually forming a concentrated flower production area in Thac Ba commune."

Mr. Bui Quy Cao – Head of Phuc Khanh village.

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, Phuc Khanh flower village becomes increasingly bustling. People tend to the flowers, harvest them, and traders come directly to the fields to place orders. Trucks loaded with flowers leave the village, carrying the colors of spring from this land along the Thac Ba River to many other regions. The vast, vibrant flower fields are not only the fruits of the labor of the people of Phuc Khanh but also proof of the right direction chosen in developing the local agricultural economy .

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/phuc-khanh-vao-xuan-post890852.html