Nurturing seeds for spring.

In spring, the Cau Nguyet plant nursery (belonging to the City's Agricultural Extension Center) becomes bustling again. More than just a place to buy and sell seedlings, Cau Nguyet is also a meeting place for plant enthusiasts.

Workers at the Cau Nguyet plant nursery care for seedlings before delivering them to customers for planting in early spring.

Multiply the green shoots

At the Cau Nguyet plant nursery, spring usually arrives earlier. Thanks to the meticulous care of the engineers and workers, the plants here remain lush and green throughout all four seasons, growing uniformly.

Ms. Tran Thi Yen, a seasonal worker at the nursery, diligently cares for each seedling every day to ensure timely delivery to customers in Hung Yen province. She shared: “Caring for plants is like caring for people. Plants must be monitored and cared for regularly to be healthy when ready for planting and to adapt well to the new environment. Therefore, each worker must understand the characteristics of each type of plant to apply fertilizer, spray pesticides, and stimulate root growth appropriately.”

Cau Nguyet Plant Nursery supplies a wide variety of high-quality fruit trees.

For many years, the Cau Nguyet plant nursery has become a familiar destination for plant growers both inside and outside the city. Every Tet (Lunar New Year) tree planting season, the nursery welcomes hundreds of visitors who come to tour and select seedlings. Mr. Pham Van Linh from Me So commune (Hung Yen province), who traveled nearly 100 km to buy seedlings from the nursery, said: “Two years ago, I bought fruit trees here to plant. Thanks to the carefully selected seedlings and good care, the survival rate is high, and the trees are developing steadily. This year, with the expansion of the nursery, I'm coming back again.”

The demand for saplings typically increases sharply from the 6th day of the Lunar New Year in early spring. The most popular types of trees are fruit trees, ornamental trees, shade trees, and trees for landscaping. Many customers pre-ordered their trees before Tet (Lunar New Year), picking them up at the beginning of the new year with the hope of bringing good fortune to their gardens. Engineer Le Van Dung shared: "Even before Tet, we inspected the entire garden and classified the trees that met the standards for sale. After Tet, customers came in large numbers; on some days, we shipped trees continuously from early morning until late at night."

Cau Nguyet Nursery covers an area of ​​over 6 hectares, providing hundreds of varieties of seedlings. It is one of the nurseries offering the widest variety of tree species in the city. Trees are either grown directly in the nursery or selected from sources suitable for the climate and soil conditions of Hai Phong and the northern coastal region. Not only residents of the city, but also many customers from other provinces such as Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, and Hanoi come to buy trees. Several landscaping companies place large orders to ensure timely implementation of projects at the beginning of the year.

According to many farmers, seedlings from the Cau Nguyet nursery are healthy, easy to plant, and have a high survival rate, significantly reducing post-planting care costs, especially in the initial stages.

Meticulous care of the plants

Many types of seedlings have been potted and are ready to be planted in various locations.

Contrary to the simple belief of many, the business of seedling cultivation requires meticulousness and perseverance. Each seedling must go through many stages, from selecting the variety, sowing in pots, transplanting, pruning, pest and disease control, until it meets the standards for sale.

Ms. Tran Thi Yen added: "Caring for seedlings requires daily monitoring. Changes in weather necessitate adjusting irrigation, providing shade, and ensuring proper drainage. Even a slight neglect will weaken the plants immediately."

During the peak period after Tet (Lunar New Year), the nursery increases its workforce to meet delivery deadlines. At times, the nursery ships out thousands of seedlings of various types every day. Even so, quality control remains a top priority. According to engineer Le Van Dung, the nursery's principle is not to ship immature seedlings or seedlings without a complete root system, even when customers need them urgently. "Reputation is the deciding factor for long-term survival. If we prioritize short-term gains and release low-quality seedlings onto the market, customers will not return."

Besides supplying seedlings, the nursery also provides direct technical advice on planting, caring for, and the appropriate planting time for each type of tree. For large orders, the nursery supports transportation and provides on-site planting guidance upon request.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, a regular customer in Vinh Bao commune, said: “Buying plants here allows me to see them firsthand and ask detailed questions about each type. Healthy plants are easier to grow and require less frequent replacement. At the beginning of the year, everyone hopes their plants will thrive and grow well for a long time.”

According to the City's Agricultural Extension Center, tree nurseries in the area, including the Cau Nguyet area, play a crucial role in providing high-quality seedlings for agricultural production and urban greening development. The Center also encourages these facilities to continue applying technological advancements, improving seedling quality, and aiming for sustainable and long-term production.

From the Cau Nguyet seedling nursery, tiny saplings and green sprouts are sent far and wide, contributing to the creation of bountiful gardens, greener streets, and shady public spaces. For those in the seedling business, each spring begins with the careful nurturing of each plant. This is also how they contribute to sowing seeds of hope for the new year, starting with these green shoots.

BAO ANH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/uom-mam-cho-mua-xuan-536331.html