Quang Ngai: Gardeners "dress" grapefruit in sun-protective clothing

SGGPO July 24, 2023 17:17

The entire Nghia Hanh district ( Quang Ngai province) has more than 790 hectares of fruit trees, of which green-skinned grapefruit is one of the main crops. The main grapefruit season starts from late July to September. To prevent the grapefruit from turning brown and yellow, gardeners must "wear" sunscreen for the grapefruit.

Gardeners "dress" grapefruit in sun-protective clothing. By: NGUYEN TRANG

A grapefruit garden in Hanh Minh commune, Nghia Hanh district. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Mr. Pham Van Dat (Hanh Minh commune, Nghia Hanh district) has more than 5,000 square meters ^of fruit trees, including more than 30 green-skinned grapefruit trees. Mr. Dat buys many bags, nylon-mixed fabric bags to cover the grapefruits. This is the way garden owners prevent grapefruits from browning when they are about to harvest, ensuring that the grapefruits ripen evenly and beautifully.

Mr. Dat is wrapping a grapefruit in a bag to prevent it from sunburn. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Mr. Dat said: “This year, grapefruit prices are around 25,000-30,000 VND/kg, the highest is 35,000 VND/kg. Due to the harsh weather, grapefruit flowers have fallen off a lot, now is the main harvest season, to minimize damage and improve the quality of grapefruit, each grapefruit is carefully wrapped.”

According to Mr. Dat, wrapping grapefruit can both protect against heat and prevent pests and insects.

Grapefruits about to be harvested are carefully wrapped to protect them from sunlight, insects, and improve fruit quality. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Mr. Huynh Sum (Hanh Minh commune, Nghia Hanh district) said: “If I don’t cover the grapefruit, the peel will be slightly red-yellow, sunken, bruised, and when eaten, it will have a burnt smell, so I have to cover it from the sun, especially in places where the sunlight shines directly. Too much light is not good for grapefruit growth.”

Mr. Sum uses areca spathe to cover the grapefruit from the sun. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Mr. Sum's garden has an area of over 3,500 ^m2 , including about 150 grapefruit trees, which are the main trees in the garden. He planted grapefruit more than 8 years ago, and every year he propagates new varieties. Mr. Sum said: "Last year, I sold 3 tons of grapefruit at the price of 30,000-35,000 VND/kg, this year the price is also 30,000 VND/kg, but unfortunately the grapefruit crop failed due to the high rate of flower loss, up to 50%".

Mr. Sum also learned how to use biological products to fertilize fruit trees, improve the soil surface for perennial crops, and thus make the grapefruit more beautiful.

Mr. Sum also used coconut leaves to cover the grapefruits after he removed the cloth bags, waiting for traders to come and buy them. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Grapefruits weighing 1.5 - 1.8 kg are popular in the market. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhat Le, Vice Chairman of Hanh Minh Commune People's Committee said: "Hanh Minh Commune has 20 hectares of large fruit trees, mainly grapefruit, rambutan, durian, etc. This year's weather is very harsh, so the grapefruit fruiting rate is more difficult, so gardeners need to preserve the quality of the fruit to sell for a better price."

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