Growing golden melons, harvesting ‘pure gold’ in Ha Tinh

As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and pests become harder to control. Many farmers in Ha Tinh have shifted to membrane house agriculture to reduce risks and improve economic returns. The golden melon growing model developed by Nguyen Van Truong in Vinh Thinh hamlet (Thach Lac commune, Ha Tinh province) demonstrates the clear benefits of this farming approach.

Amid the scorching heat of early summer, Truong has been busy harvesting melons in his membrane house complex spanning thousands of square meters. Round, bright-skinned golden melons are carefully picked, packed into boxes, and shipped to buyers. Sweat runs down his sunburnt face, but he cannot hide his satisfaction as this season has delivered encouraging results.

In 2025, Typhoons Kajiki and Ragasa severely damaged the family's membrane house system, and the entire production almost became a lost cause. After the storms, the family had to invest heavily in repairing and reinforcing frames, shade nets, and irrigation equipment to prepare for the next crop.

"It is hard to achieve stable farming nowadays without applying technology proactively. Weather conditions are becoming more erratic, pest pressure is increasing, and open-field cultivation carries major risks. That's why my family has focused on membrane house investment to better control growing conditions," he says.

This season, Truong cultivates more than 4,000 VA74 golden melon plants on substrate media within a closed membrane house system. Although prolonged wet weather early in the season created challenges, strict adherence to technical procedures enables the crop to develop well, producing approximately 6 tons of fruit.

VA74 is a vigorous variety with crisp texture, firm flesh, and naturally sweet flavor, making it highly popular among consumers. However, achieving uniform growth, attractive fruit, and high yields requires tight control from seedling to cultivation.

Seeds must be sourced from reputable suppliers at around VND 3,000 per seed. Before sowing, they are treated to reduce fungal diseases and then raised in trays for about 10 days. Seedlings are transplanted into the membrane house only after they have produced two to three true leaves.

The entire crop is grown on substrate media rather than directly in soil. The substrate consists of a blend of coconut coir, carbonized rice husks, and composted livestock manure, providing good aeration, moisture retention, and disease suppression. Truong explained that substrate cultivation promotes healthy root development, facilitates nutrient management, and substantially reduces soil-borne diseases.

The farm also follows an organic-oriented production model, prioritizing composted manure and biological products instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A fully integrated drip irrigation system delivers water and nutrients directly to each plant, reducing fertilizer losses and saving labor.

To ensure high-quality fruit, crop care is conducted meticulously. Once the plants become established, growers prune side shoots, secure vines, and select fruit. Only one fruit is retained per plant to concentrate nutrients, ensuring uniform development, greater sweetness, and higher market value.

Based on Truong’s experience, the flowering and fruit-setting stage is the vital period. Overcast weather and high humidity can easily trigger fungal diseases, reducing fruit set. Therefore, controlling temperature and humidity inside the membrane house and monitoring crops closely for timely intervention are key factors for a successful harvest.

Approximately two and a half months after planting, the melons are ready for harvest. Each fruit weighs between 1.5 and 2 kilograms on average, with uniform appearance, firm flesh, and high sugar content. Compared with conventional field cultivation, membrane house production increases yields by 20 - 30% while significantly reducing pest infestations and weather-related losses.

In addition to the golden melons currently being harvested, Truong is preparing to harvest another 4,000 Hami melon plants and is making arrangements for the next planting season to supply the market during the seventh lunar month festival period.

Tran Xuan Hoang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thach Lac commune, gives high praise to Truong’s membrane house melon model, as it is well suited to counter increasingly extreme weather conditions. The use of membrane houses, water-saving irrigation systems, and substrate cultivation helps reduce the impacts of adverse weather, lower pest pressure, and improve both productivity and product quality.

The model not only generates strong economic returns but also helps transform local farmers’ production mindset toward high-tech, safe, and sustainable agriculture. The commune is encouraging wider adoption of similar models to increase production value per unit area and enhance resilience to climate change.

$1 = VND 26,394 - Source: Viietcombank.