Watermelon crop prepared for Tet

In recent years, residents in Mekong Delta provinces have traveled to rubber plantations in Binh Duong Province to rent land for watermelon cultivation. On the occasion, such watermelon gardens are ready for the upcoming Tet Holiday 2015.

Watermelon is favored by majority of the population for its sweet and cool taste during Tet Holiday. Nowadays, watermelon is grown year round; however, Tet Holiday is still the special occasion for this kind of fruit.

Workers are taking care of the newly cultivated watermelon garden of Mr. Le Van Dat. Photo: Q. Nhien.

At Long Nguyen Rubber Plantation under Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation, among the rubber tree rows are watermelons of 2 weeks old in weeding period. Mr. Le Van Dat from Mekong Delta is renting 20ha locally to grow watermelon for Tet Holiday market. He expects to supply 400-500 tons to domestic and foreign markets. Being experienced in the field, he chose local land for its suitability to watermelon which was priced VND 4,000 to 6,000 a kilo.

Watermelon growing appeared in Binh Phuoc Province 10 years ago and 4-5 years in Binh Duong Province. Light and humidity of newly grown rubber trees are the key to good growth of watermelon for 55-60 days a crop and 3 crops in a year for a gap of 1-2 months land laying off. Nutrition and water for watermelons also benefit the rubber tree rubber plantation, thus, the cultivation is win-win cooperation.

Reported by Quynh Nhien – Translated by Vi Bao