VietNamNet Bridge - Giant farm produce, with strange colors and shapes, have become increasingly popular in Vietnam.

1. Giant pumpkin

Giant pumpkins weighing between 50 and 100 kilos from seeds grown in the US are a common sight on the family farm of Le Huu Phan in Da Lat in the Cenal Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Phan said in his 4,000m2 garden, he has devoted up to 3,000m2 for growing vegetable seedlings to supply to other farmers. The remaining 1,000m2 is for trial plantation of strange fruits and vegetables that Vietnam does not have, including giant pumpkins from the US, purple kohlrabi, the 7-color cabbage, the black tomatoes and others.

The farmer said the cultivation techniques of these crops are similar to those applied to existing vegetable varieties in Da Lat. The biggest difficulty is how to purchase the seeds. Phan said he bought the seeds through friends abroad.

According to Phan, the cost of cultivation of these vegetables and fruits is not higher than that of domestic varieties so he sold them at reasonable prices, from VND40,000 to VND50,000/product or per kilo. His garden has attracted a lot of visitors.

Currently, Phan only sells his unique products at his garden. He has not considered selling them to supermarkets or expanding the garden because of the huge cost for land.

Phan said in 2012, he read an article on the Internet about American farmers using machines to harvest the giant pumpkin, which weigh over 1 ton. He asked a friend in the US to buy the seeds for him and then he planted them in his own 150sq.m garden. The pumpkin grew well and yielded fruits after six months. However, the biggest pumpkins weighed just 80kg.

Currently, there are two varieties of giant pumpkins in Phan’s garden, yellow and white, with the largest fruit weighing 50kg.

This product has sold very well. People usually buy giant pumpkins for display. Phan has not sold pumpkins by weight as usual but priced them from VND3 to VND4 million ($150-$200). On an area of 150m2, Pan harvested 10 to 15 giant pumpkins/crop.

Phan said he wanted to organize a pumpkin competition as an event to attract tourists to Da Lat.

Phan’s garden has over 10 giant pumpkins; the biggest weighs about 60kg. These pumpkins will be displayed at the upcoming Da Lat Flower Festival. Phan hoped that by that time, his pumpkins will reach the weight of 80kg.

2. Giant squash

Also weighing up to several tens of kilograms, giant squash planted by farmers in Chanh Trach 1 and Chanh Trach 2 villages in My Tho commune, Phu My district, Binh Dinh province are very special.

According to squash growers, the squash in this area is very big thanks to the special soil here. These squash can weigh up to 40kg. They are sold for VND4,000-VND6,000 per kilo.

In addition to selling the fruit, farmers can sell pumpkin juice, which is extracted from the tree trunk after harvesting pumpkin, with 1-2 liters of juice/tree, which is sold for VND40,000/l. The juice is used for detoxification and treatment of common diseases such as vitiligo, ringworm. It can be kept for years.

3. Black tomatoes

Farmers in Da Lat began planting black tomatoes, a much sought-after delicacy in Vietnam, in 2014, and they are attracting high prices, because of their exotic appearance and touted health properties, and because storms have reduced general supply.

The tomatoes are believed to have been developed at Oregon State University, in the US. The pigments from the stem turn them black as they ripen in sunlight. They are rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant believed to help fight cancer, diabetes and obesity.

Regular tomatoes sell for VND7,000 to VND12,000 a kilogram, while black tomatoes attract prices of VND65,000 to VND140,000 a kilogram.

4. Pepino watermelon

Small, oval and marked with purplish striping, the Pepino melon is not truly a melon at all, but the fruit from an evergreen shrub in Peru. Once found only in Peru, the Pepino is now also grown in Ecuador, New Zealand, California and other subtropical climates.

Shaped like a teardrop, the exotic Pepino melon has a soft, edible golden skin with distinctive purple and greenish-yellow striping. The flesh of the Pepino is light, with a pleasant scent of vanilla and notes of honey. Surprisingly, the flavor is a delicate combination of cantaloupe and honeydew melon combined.

Pepinos are often enjoyed in fruit or spinach salads or simply cut in half and served individually, topped with a sprinkling of fresh lemon or lime juice and chilli powder. If the creamy yellow background skin areas have a greenish tint, ripen Pepinos at room temperature, uncovered and out of direct sun. Once ripe, Pepinos are fragrant and will yield slightly to pressure.

Nguyen Dinh, who first brought the seeds to Vietnam, said that he grows pepino melons in greenhouses using high-tech methods. Dinh harvest 30-40 kilograms of melons each day, earning at least VND1.8 million ($80).

The fruits are sold mainly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. As supplies are limited, a kilogram of pepino melons can be sold at local markets for VND200,000 ($9).

Compiled by Linh Nhat