Tet is coming but the yellow apricot blossoms are still slow to bloom, making apricot gardeners in Gia Lai struggling and worried.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year 2025, the prolonged cold air in Pleiku City ( Gia Lai Province) has made many apricot gardeners worried because the yellow apricot blossoms are slow to bloom. Many gardeners have to cover the base of the trees with nylon, use lights, and cover them with nets to keep the trees warm, hoping that the apricot blossoms will bloom in time for the Lunar New Year.

Unfavorable weather, gardeners worried about apricot blossoms

In Yen The, Phu Dong and Thang Loi wards (Pleiku city), many gardeners have been busy taking care of yellow apricot flowers in cold weather conditions that have lasted for more than 2 weeks.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chung (residing in Group 5, Yen The Ward, Pleiku City) with more than 10 years of experience in taking care of apricot trees said: "My family picked apricot leaves a week earlier than every year, but the apricot buds had not yet had time to peel off the husks when the cold weather hit, causing the buds to turn black. Even though we used lights, covered the net and covered the base, strong sunlight was still needed for the apricot flowers to bloom in time."

The yellow apricot trees are carefully cared for by using lamps and covering the base, with the hope that the flower buds will bloom in time for Tet.

Currently, Mr. Chung's apricot garden has about 250 large and small apricot flower pots, but only 30-40% of the pots have begun to bloom. For the apricot pots that he took care of for customers but did not bloom in time, he has to use his own apricot pots to compensate for Tet guests. "This year, my family has lost a lot of money," Mr. Chung said sadly.

Late blooming apricot blossoms affect gardeners' income

Mr. Le Quang (residing in Phu Dong ward, Pleiku city), who has more than 20 years of experience growing apricot trees, shared: "My apricot garden has more than 400 apricot flower pots, of which more than 100 pots are sent by customers to take care of. Depending on the size of the apricot pot, the cost of care ranges from 500,000 VND to 3 million VND/tree/year. My family rents apricot trees for 3 - 15 million VND/tree depending on the size of the apricot pot."

According to Mr. Quang, this year's unusually cold weather has made many gardeners worried. Although they take good care of their plants, if the weather is not favorable, all their efforts will be in vain. Every year, I will pick the leaves at the end of the 11th lunar month or the beginning of the 12th lunar month.

But this year, most of the apricot trees have lost their leaves a week earlier. If the cold weather continues near Tet, there is a risk that many apricot trees will stand in bud and not bloom. Compared to previous years, the number of apricot trees sold this year is only half. In addition, the price depends on each pot.

The cold weather has lasted for a long time, the apricot trees have only just started to bud and have not yet bloomed, making gardeners worried that they will not bloom in time for Tet.

Mr. Dang Van Hoc (residing in Group 3, Phu Dong Ward, Pleiku City) said: "Every year my family must have a pot of apricot blossoms to enjoy during Tet. Apricot blossoms bring luck, wealth and especially a joyful spirit to the family."

According to the experience of some gardeners with many years of growing and caring for apricot flowers, caring for apricot flowers is not simple. Apricot flowers depend on the weather. If it is sunny, the flowers bloom early, if it is cold, the flowers bloom late, which is normal.

Like last year, at this time the apricot blossoms were in full bloom, this year, close to Tet, the apricot blossoms have only just begun to sprout small buds, making many garden owners worried.

The late blooming of apricot blossoms has affected the income of apricot gardeners. Because gardeners take care of apricot trees all year round in the hope that Tet will bring them a significant income.

Source: https://danviet.vn/tet-den-noi-ma-mai-vang-van-no-cham-nha-vuon-trong-mai-o-gia-lai-chat-vat-lo-lang-2025012410320295.htm