With more than a month remaining until Tet, farmers across An Phu, Pleiku, Bien Ho, Dak Doa and surrounding areas are intensifying care to ensure their gladiolus bloom on schedule.
However, unseasonably cold conditions over the past week have raised concerns that slower plant development could push harvests beyond the narrow Tet window, undermining incomes.
For years, gladiolus cultivation has been a seasonal mainstay in western Gia Lai, supplying markets both inside and outside the province. The flowers are traditionally displayed during Tet as symbols of good fortune. Typically planted from late September to early October on the lunar calendar, bulbs are sourced from Da Lat in Lam Dong province.
This year, frequent rains prompted many growers to plant five to seven days earlier than usual, anticipating that wet conditions would be followed by cold spells. Many fields have now reached five to six pairs of leaves and are entering the budding stage, with farmers closely monitoring growth as harvest time approaches.
Unlike previous years, when this period marked the onset of dry, sunny weather ideal for flower development, recent cold nights and mornings have slowed growth, heightening the risk of late blooms.
Nguyen Thanh Vu, a grower in Group 6 of An Phu Ward, said he planted more than two sao (about 2,000 square metres) of red and square-eared gladiolus for Tet, following a long-standing family practice.
“We rely on experience to time planting so the flowers bloom exactly for Tet. This year, heavy rains signalled a likely cold spell, so I planted earlier. The garden is still developing well, but we are all hoping for warmer sunshine to return”, he said.
While bulb prices are lower than last year, easing some cost pressures, unpredictable weather remains the biggest risk. Vu noted that in normal years, harvesting would run from the 13th to the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, with refrigerated trucks arriving from across the country to collect flowers for nationwide distribution.
Le Thi Thuy, another grower in An Phu Ward, said she planted more than one sao earlier than usual, but the prolonged cold has complicated care and driven up expenses.
“Low temperatures affect whether the flowers bloom early or late, and costs for fertiliser, pesticides and labour have all increased. We are watching the weather closely and hoping for warm days so the flowers bloom in time for Tet”, she said.
Veteran growers say gladiolus cultivation is highly weather-dependent: warm, sunny conditions ensure timely blooms, while prolonged cold can significantly reduce returns. Despite fluctuating market conditions, farmers are concentrating resources on crop care in hopes of more favourable weather before Tet.
Le Duc Thang, a long-time grower in Pleiku Ward, said his family cultivates more than three sao of gladiolus. Although cold weather has slowed development, earlier planting and higher elevation have helped the plants enter the budding stage. “We are focusing on staking and supporting the rows and expect to start cutting flowers for traders around the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month”, he said.
Nguyen Huu Tai, chairman of the An Phu Ward Farmers’ Association, said preliminary surveys show more than five hectares of gladiolus are being grown for the upcoming Tet. “Recent cold weather has caused concern, but we are encouraging growers to pool resources and focus on care so the flowers bloom on time for Tet 2026, helping families secure income and celebrate the holiday”, he said.