The gourd kumquat is a unique product created by Ms. Do Thi Mai, residing in Me So (Van Giang, Hung Yen ). About 4 years ago, Ms. Mai researched and created kumquat bonsai trees with fruits shaped like gourds.
Because of its unique shape, this kumquat tree immediately attracted the attention of consumers. Many people came to take pictures, look at it and ask to buy these unique kumquat trees.
In those years, later customers saw the unique kumquat tree and wanted to buy it, willing to pay 2-3 times the price, but Mrs. Mai refused to sell it because all the kumquat pots she made had already been pre-ordered.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2024, anticipating the attraction of this unique ornamental plant, Ms. Mai's family prepared seedlings from the beginning of the year and produced about 3,000 gourd kumquat pots to serve the Tet market but still could not sell enough.
A large pot of kumquat (Photo: NVCC)
Up to now, all the products her family prepared have been sold out. The small kumquat pots, some as big as a hand, the kumquat tree trunks about 30 cm high, full of yellow and green gourd-shaped fruits, are sold for about 120,000 - 150,000 VND per pot. The larger ones, grown in vases, can cost up to 500,000 VND.
“Because the price is affordable for consumers, combined with the unique shape of the fruit, the small potted plant can be easily decorated on the coffee table, so it quickly “sold out” , said Mr. Viet, Ms. Mai's son.
It is known that to create a kumquat shape similar to a gourd is very difficult, requiring certain experience and techniques, especially taking a lot of time and effort. Therefore, in the ornamental land of Van Giang, very few families can do it.
Most of the kumquat trees are made by Mrs. Mai's family in mini size to make them easier to sell to customers. (Photo: NVCC)
When she first tried, Mrs. Mai failed many times. The first year, many of the kumquats were damaged by the strings, and some of the ones that were successful were not shaped like a gourd. Each time she failed, she learned from her experience and finally succeeded.
According to Ms. Mai, kumquats are usually very simple to grow and care for, but the gourd kumquat requires high technique. Growers must know the right time to tie the fruit with string. If the timing is not right, the kumquats can be damaged.
“The maker needs to tie the string so that the top part is smaller than the bottom part, like a gourd. If you tie it in the middle, it will be very simple but will not give the gourd shape. Moreover, if the string is tied too tightly, the fruit will be damaged,” said Ms. Mai.
Seeing the beautiful gourd-shaped kumquat, many people came to Mrs. Mai’s house to learn how to make it, but she said that very few people can successfully make this type of kumquat. That is why the number of gourd-shaped kumquat pots sold on the market is not much.
Cong Hieu
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