Giant Pumpkin: A Tale of Agricultural Success in Vietnam

A farmer named Lê Hữu Phan in Đà Lạt imported pumpkin seeds from abroad to cultivate on his land. Pumpkins are harvested primarily for display or serving during Halloween, with each batch yielding fruit after 6 months. The largest pumpkin weighs up to 80 kg. Due to its high aesthetic value, each giant pumpkin is priced at 3 to 4 million VND. With Phan's 150-square-meter plot, each season yields 10 to 15 fruits. Currently, giant pumpkins are a sought-after product in the Vietnamese market, prompting many farmers to expand their cultivation on large plots.

Square watermelons are the result of the creative efforts of Đinh Trần Nguyễn, a student born in 1984 majoring in agriculture at Can Tho University. After several failures, this student learned valuable lessons to produce square watermelons as desired. The best time to plant watermelons is during the winter-spring crop, when the cool weather prevents the fruits from cracking. The growth period of watermelons is 60 days, and the best time to shape them into squares is after 40 days of fruiting. The best material for shaping frames is glass, with different-sized watermelons requiring different glass frames. With their unique and appealing appearance, square watermelons are popular for household altars, although their high price of 500,000 VND per pair makes them accessible only to affluent families. Many people choose one square and one round watermelon for their altars, symbolizing completeness and prosperity for the upcoming year. Due to the considerable care and investment required, square watermelons are only found in affluent households. In Japan, only 600 fruits are grown annually, selling for 1.3 million VND each in supermarkets.

Nguyễn Định from Ward 8, Da Lat City (Lam Dong) contacted a supplier to purchase Dutch bull horn pepper seeds for experimental cultivation. To his surprise, his bull horn peppers attracted numerous traders, with some batches selling out and unable to meet demand. When ripe, the peppers display predominant colors of red, purple, and yellow. Some peppers grow up to 30 cm long and weigh up to 300 grams. Thanks to proper care techniques and favorable weather and soil conditions, he earns 600 million VND annually, with a net profit of 400 million VND after deducting care expenses. Bull horn peppers, besides being used as a seasoning like bell peppers, are also juiced for beauty purposes and aid in weight loss. Currently, sweet bull horn peppers are mainly consumed in major agricultural stores and supermarket chains in Ho Chi Minh City.

The peach is a fruit often displayed on altars, both its leaves and fruits carrying specific meanings. Fresh peach trees with lush foliage and well-shaped fruits symbolize a prosperous family with healthy offspring. Understanding consumer psychology, farmers have creatively crafted lotus-shaped peaches. These peaches are interplanted with pomelos to increase productivity. It takes 4 months to grow lotus-shaped peaches, which are ornamental and not for consumption. Lotus-shaped peaches are considered items of spiritual energy convergence, bringing luck and prosperity. A 3 kg peach sells for 150,000 VND. The advantage of lotus-shaped peaches is their year-round cultivation capability, with a shelf life of 3 to 4 months.

Gold ingot watermelons are cultivated by Mr. Trần Thanh Liêm in Bình Thủy District, Can Tho City, on his own land. Watermelons with unique shapes bring significant profits to Liêm's family. During the 2015 Lunar New Year, Liêm planted 300 pairs of watermelons of various shapes. Selling 150 pairs earned him 525 million VND, earning him the title of 'watermelon king.' Liêm's watermelons take on meanings such as gold ingot watermelon symbolizing prosperity, heart-shaped watermelon representing love for the country, and square-shaped watermelon symbolizing abundance. These watermelons are embossed with the characters for Prosperity - Fortune or the map of Vietnam. Nowadays, watermelons serve not only as food but also have high aesthetic value, especially for those interested in feng shui or desiring success in life and career. Liêm invested a considerable amount of effort and money in growing these watermelons, but the admirable results demonstrate the intelligence and adaptability of Vietnamese farmers.

With their small and adorable appearance, these tiny carrots are favored by many and sought after for purchase. Moreover, tiny carrots are easy to grow and care for; you can buy seeds and plant them at home. In addition to their food value, tiny carrots can be used as children's toys or home decorations. A popular cooking website from the UK features many enticing dishes made from tiny carrots, sparking a tiny carrot craze. Tiny carrots taste better and sweeter than large carrots; they do not need to be cut into small pieces when cooking and can be used in various dishes, so they have become a staple in many families' meals. In urban areas, there was once a trend of growing tiny carrots due to their small space requirements and ease of care. Outside of markets, tiny carrots are sold for 15 to 20 thousand VND per kilogram in supermarkets.

The Prosperity Buddha Pomelo is shaped from year-old pomelos using 3D-designed plastic molds. To achieve this level, farmers in the Mekong Delta had to experiment and fail many times. The Buddha Pomelo shape has been patented by Gia Nguyen Company. It takes 5 to 6 months to shape a pomelo into a Buddha figure. Selected fruits for shaping must have good growth, free from pests and diseases. Frame assembly begins in the third month, and harvesting is possible after 3.5 to 4 months. The Buddha-shaped pomelo is most sought after by those who follow Buddhism. Prices range from 700,000 to 900,000 VND for pomelos under 1.5 kg, and from 850,000 to 1.1 million VND for pomelos from 1.5 kg to over 2 kg. Some places even list prices as high as 3 to 4 million VND per pomelo. Due to various difficulties in pomelo shaping, demand cannot always be met.