Gardeners are busy planting and caring for flowers they hope to supply during Tet 2025 (the Vietnamese traditional Lunar New Year), which falls on January 29, 2025. This year, many farmers still maintain the same quantity as previous years, while planting many new types of flowers to meet the diverse needs of the growing market.

Night in the flower garden serving Tet in Duong Son village, Hoa Chau Commune, Hoa Vang District. Photo: LAM - TRUC

Favourable weather, good growth of plants

As recorded in many large flower growing areas in Da Nang such as Hoa Chau, Hoa Lien and Hoa Phong in Hoa Vang District and Cam Le District, flower growers are urgently planting and tending short-lived flowers so that the flowers bloom on time for Tet.

At the Duong Son flower area located in Hoa Chau Commune, Hoa Vang District, from the end of July to the beginning of August of the lunar calendar, many flower growers have started planting the main flowers such as chrysanthemums to serve the market.

Up to now, farmers here have entered the flower care stage. Compared to the same period last year, the flowers are growing more stably and lushly.

On an area of 3,500m², Mr. Ly Phuoc Van and his workers are busy taking care of and checking 1,200 pots of chrysanthemums in time to serve the upcoming Tet holiday.

This year, because the weather is more favourable than previous years, his chrysanthemums have grown well, reaching a height of 30 - 50cm.

“During the recent floods, because the flower area was located on high ground, the drainage system operated efectively, so all of the flowers were not affected. The most difficult thing is how to keep the leaves green and ensure flowers in full  bloom for Tet, so I hope the weather will be stable so that the flowers can grow to ensure good sales,” said Mr. Van.

Also working at the Duong Son flower area, Ms. Vo Thi Tuoi and her workers are weeding and hoeing the soil to plant more than 200 primroses and marigolds. Ms. Tuoi's garden is also growing 600 pots of chrysanthemums on an area of 2,000 square meters. Compared to last year, the number of chrysanthemums has decreased by 20%.

“Although the weather has been erratic with heavy rains and storms, it has generally been favourable. As compared to last year when flower growers suffered great damage due to natural disasters, this year the plants are currently growing well," Ms. Tuoi said.

Mr. Ly Phuoc Van is taking care of the chrysanthemum garden in the Duong Son flower growing area, Hoa Chau Commune. Photo: TRAN TRUC

Many new types of flowers

With an area of 2,500m², Mr. Nguyen Van Ty in Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District grows 3,000 hanging pots of primroses, 4,000 pots of raspberry chrysanthemums and 300 pots of chrysanthemums. Mr. Ty said: “This is the second year I have grown traditional raspberry chrysanthemums. Last year the flowers were of good quality, so this year the quantity has doubled to 4,000 pots. Now the Da Nang market is starting to become popular with raspberry chrysanthemums. In reality, out of 10 farmers, 7 will produce raspberry chrysanthemums. Another type of flower that is quite new in the central region is the yellow and jade-coloured hanging chrysanthemums with an upright shape. I am planting 500 pots of this flower type on a trial basis. In addition, I am also experimenting with growing about 700 pots of hanging flowers this year."

According to Mr. Phan Dinh Phung, a farmer in the Van Duong flower area in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District with many years of experience growing flowers for Tet, despite the difficult weather, the flowers here are still growing well thanks to careful care.

Unlike other households in the area, his family does not grow chrysanthemums like the majority, but his direction is to grow hanging flowers, in line with the trend. With an area of 4,000m², Mr. Phung is growing more than 30,000 pots of flowers of various types such as pico chrysanthemums, primroses, begonias and sunflowers with each type from 2,000 to 3,000 pots.

To meet the high demand of the market, this year his garden has increased by 10,000 pots compared to last year. In particular, he is experimenting with growing new varieties of dahlias and gerberas with a total of more than 400 pots.

Mr. Phung said: “These types of flowers have good consumption and are being grown in large quantities by many gardeners. The highlight of these types is their compact shape, which can be placed on tables or hung, suitable for small spaces and areas, so they are popular”.

At the Go Giang flower village, Duong Lam 2 village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District in a garden of more than 1.5 hectares, Ms. Le Anh and workers are meticulously taking care of more than 70,000 flower pots. It is known that although the number of pots is the same as last year, the flower species structure has been changed.

According to Ms. Anh, the garden grows more than 20 types of flowers such as primrose, apricot blossom and begonia each type is grown from 5,000 to 15,000 pots. The Korean raspberry chrysanthemum with its striking red colour has been significantly increased in quantity, 4 times higher than last year, with nearly 30,000 pots.

Although the number of chrysanthemums has increased, the garden has also reduced the number of primroses (hanging flowers) by about 70%; and at the same time, it has also tested about 1,000 pots of Sa Dec raspberries with yellow colour.

“Although hanging flowers are still popular in the market, compared to chrysanthemums, this type must be grown in shade net houses. Everyone knows that the weather in the central region is very harsh, so flowers are very susceptible to damage. As for chrysanthemums, they can withstand storms for a period of 5-10 days outdoors,” Ms. Le Anh shared.

Reporting by TRAN TRUC - Translating by A.THU