Srinagar: The Tulip Garden, in the foothills of Zabarwan range, is all set to host a flower show in March. Staff at the largest garden in Asia said tulips bulbs had been sown, ground work completed and now just the finishing touches were being given.“We have completed all the field operations. This winter, it snowed at the right time. Now, final touches will be given and we are expecting the tulips to bloom by March-end,” said Javed Ahmad Shah, a consultant for Tulip Garden.Even though tulips can be seen in full bloom for around a month only, the garden has been credited with having extended the tourist season in the Kashmir valley as the prime season usually starts by April-end. As per the Floriculture Department officials, over a million tulips bloom at the garden.Shah, who has remained associated with the garden right from its inception, said the land preparation at the garden started in mid November last year.“Before sowing bulbs, the land was fumigated and ploughed properly. We also used organic manure as farmers, staff, gardeners, supervisors and other field staff put in a lot of efforts at the garden,” Shah added.He added that scientists of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, too had been engaged for checking fungal infections in the bulbs.Earlier also, the Floriculture Department engaged a specialist from Holland, John Neele, for improving the aesthetic look of the garden.As per an official of the Floriculture Department, Neele had been consulted as Holland was globally renowned for its tulips and remained the major exporter of tulip bulbs. The department also aims at seeking technical guidance from Holland to produce tulip bulbs in the Valley on scientific lines, and on a large scale, as these are presently imported from Holland.
Tribune News Service