Hanoi and northern provinces have been suffering biting cold for a week, which is warned to continue, making flower growers “like to be a cat on hot bricks” as the biggest holiday is approaching.

Peach flower growers in Phu Thuong and Nhat Tan wards in Tay Ho precinct, two largest flower suppliers in Hanoi, complained that just over 20 days away from Tet, but weather forecasters have warned of several other spells of biting cold ahead.

If the forecast comes true, peach flowers are in a threat to be unable to blossom at the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Peach flower growers are resorting to all means to make their flowers blossom at the right time. They have intensified watering, fertilising and even turned on electric lights the night round to warm up peach roots in an effort to make peach bloom soon.

Peach flower growers said the ideal weather should be the mixture of cold and warm. Peach will yield huge flowers with thick petals and beautiful colour and numerous buds in a weather which has several days of the cold weather after several warm days.

Growers of rose and c hrysanthemum are also struggling against the long spells of chilly cold. They cover their orchards with nets, maintain the necessary humidity level and keep trees warm with electricity light./.