Whoever has enjoyed the mangosteen grown in Vinh Thanh, the outskirts of Nha Trang City, can know how delicious it is compared with that cultivated in other places....
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| In spite of originating in the South region, the mangosteen grown in Vinh Thanh are sweeter and more tasty. |
Whoever has tasted the mangosteen grown in Vinh Thanh, the outskirts of Nha Trang City, can know how delicious it is compared with that cultivated in other places. In spite of its origination in the South region, the tree produces sweeter and more tasty fruits when cultivated in the riverside commune of Vinh Thanh thanks to the alluvium filled in by the Cai River. Unfortunately, the cultivation has gradually decreased due to fast urbanization.
Specialty of the riverside area
Farmer Nguyen Xuan Hai has the most mangosteen trees in Phu Vinh Village, Vinh Thanh Commune. His place has become a tourist destination, attractive for a fruitful orchard and an ancient house.
The owner remembered, “When finding that the mangosteen developed well in some areas here, I decided to give it a try. I started with the mangosteen, durian, rambutan and mulberry. I bought the seeds in Dien Lac, Dien khanh District. Of the four fruit-trees, the mangosteen proves to develop the best in spite of flooding." According to the man, the mangosteen, a tropical evergreen tree, is suitable for the soil and weather in Vinh Thanh.
The fragrant flesh is sweet and tangy with peach flavor and texture. The pulp is aromatic and has a delightful sweet sour taste. The mangosteen has a longer life-span (over 200 years) than the durian (only 100 years). With good care, they can begin to produce fruits at 5-8 years from planting. The mangosteen fruits on the 4th -5th and 11th - 12th month in the lunar calendar.
The juvenile mangosteen fruit does not require much fertilization to form there thanks to the fertile soil. As the fruit enlarges over the next two to three months, the exocarp color deepens to darker green. During this period, the fruit increases in size, remaining hard until a final, abrupt ripening stage.
Farmers’ concern
The alluvium brings the special taste to the mangosteen grown in Vinh Thanh. That is one of the reasons for its higher price than that grown in other places. However, many farmers are accustomed to growing many kinds of trees dispersedly in the same area. The farming practice has reduced the outstanding features of the seedless mangosteen.
Over the past years, many farmers have renovated gardens with several kinds of trees to become areas specializing in the cultivation of one sort of plant, especially the mangosteen. Nevertheless, the number of mangosteen trees are still limited. The total area of mangosteen growing gardens is less than two hectares. Besides, Vinh Thanh mangoteen is facing a risk of oblivion due to fast urbanization. Many gardens have been replaced by buildings. It is worried that Vinh Thanh mangosteen will not exist long. Therefore, solution to develop this delicious specialty must be found soon.
N.T
