From car mechanic to 'expert' in cantaloupe

After nearly two years of accumulating knowledge, a mechanic in Da Nang has successfully taught himself how to grow cantaloupe in greenhouses, overcoming the disadvantages of the soil and climate for this high-end fruit crop.

For months now, the shelves of organic agricultural stores in Da Nang have been filled with beautiful, fresh, crisp, and sweet cantaloupes, proving very popular in the market. "What's particularly interesting is that this premium fruit is grown right here in Da Nang, so it's very fresh and delicious, not from fruit orchards in the South or imported," enthusiastically shared Ms. Ha Thi Thanh (Thanh Binh Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang), a customer buying cantaloupes at an organic agricultural store in Da Nang.

Establish your own process.

Nguyen Huu Quyet said he is planning to expand the area for growing cantaloupe. "If we increase the planting area fivefold, planting about 1,000 vines every 10 days, we can harvest cantaloupe every 10 days, ensuring a consistent supply to the market," Quyet said.

Leading us into his modern 1,200 ^m² greenhouse in his hometown (Phu Son Nam village, Hoa Khuong commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang ), Nguyen Huu Quyet (28 years old) immediately showed us the newly planted cantaloupe vines, 70 days old, with fruits weighing over 2 kg each hanging from the trellises. He said that the cantaloupes he grows are "absolutely clean," according to standards he himself established: no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers. "Each plant has its own pot and vine, so any diseased plant is detected early and removed from the growing environment to avoid affecting the others," Quyet explained.

Quyết shared more about the process of growing cantaloupe in bags of growing medium consisting of 70% coconut fiber, 20% cow manure and vermicompost, and the remainder being organic fertilizer and microorganisms. The seeds are germinated in the growing medium without using seed trays to encourage faster germination and healthier growth. This growing medium can be reused after two months of treatment with added lime to neutralize the acidity of the coconut fiber and to incubate microorganisms to inhibit fungal diseases and increase beneficial bacteria.

“Each growing medium bag contains one melon vine, and water from the drip irrigation system is channeled directly to the roots. This system helps save and control water resources, providing nutrients to each plant. When the fruit is nearing harvest, the irrigation water can be stopped to control the crispness and sweetness of the melons,” Quyết revealed.

Not only did Mr. Quyet research the process and techniques of growing cantaloupe himself, but he also proactively exploited the natural advantages of the Central Vietnamese sun, controlling sudden temperature drops or unexpected rain showers, using a modern greenhouse system with a microclimate control system to regulate air humidity, helping the plants grow evenly. “Cantaloupe prefers sunshine, so the sunny climate of Central Vietnam is very suitable, but if it gets too rainy, the melons will be ruined. Therefore, with this high-value crop, choosing to grow it in a greenhouse overcomes the disadvantages of the climate. Moreover, growing cantaloupe in Da Nang is quite suitable because of the high light intensity, with sunlight lasting from 5 am to 5 pm. The greenhouse also has a sun-cutting system that adjusts the light intensity inside, helping to limit the rate of temperature drop if the weather changes,” Mr. Quyet shared.

Building the "Made in Danang" brand for melons.

Listening to Mr. Quyet speak like a "high-tech agricultural expert," few would guess that less than a year ago he was just a car mechanic. Seeing the potential of the clean food market and the strategic location of Hoa Vang (Da Nang) in the high-tech agricultural development plan, he decided to switch to agriculture. He used the savings he had accumulated over eight years as a car mechanic to fund trips to high-tech farms in Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Dong Nai , and Binh Duong provinces to learn about different models; he also independently researched techniques online…

In early April 2017, the mechanic decided to rent 1 hectare of agricultural land in Phu Son Nam village to invest in a greenhouse for growing cantaloupe. Many people in his hometown said he was crazy for investing over 400 million VND in growing melons, but he thought differently: “People have long since changed their mindset about small-scale, fragmented agriculture. You have to invest in technology, you have to grow organically to develop; and the time of depending on nature, on sun, wind, and rainwater is over…” True to his word, the mechanic's greenhouse for growing cantaloupe was equipped with modern Belgian technology, including standard irrigation equipment, hanging racks, growing media, seeds... and an air humidity control system, helping the plants grow uniformly.

In early August, the experimental crop of 1,200 cantaloupe vines yielded unexpected success, with nearly 2 tons of "made in Danang" cantaloupes reaching local consumers. "The melons are clean, beautiful, and flawless because they are grown in greenhouses, free from insect damage. The melons are the perfect size, weighing 1.2-1.8 kg, ensuring a delicious and sweet taste. Buyers often prefer larger fruits, but in reality, when the fruit reaches around 2 kg, we cut off the irrigation to slightly firm it up, ensuring a sweet and refreshing flavor," Quyết said, adding that he is currently applying labels to identify his "made in Danang" cantaloupe products. "Clean agriculture and high-tech agriculture are the future and the long-term path. I believe that cantaloupes grown cleanly right here in Danang will supply the market and meet the needs of local people," Quyết asserted.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-tho-sua-xe-thanh-chuyen-gia-dua-luoi-185698559.htm