Delhi’s tulip cultivation programme is set for expansion, with Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu directing the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to develop an indigenous propagation cycle, increase seasonal blooms and prioritise native plant species. The civic body will plant around 24,000 tulip bulbs across NDMC areas during the upcoming flowering season.
Sandhu issued the directions after visiting NDMC’s hi-tech nursery at Lodhi Garden, where he reviewed tulip growth chambers, year-round sapling production and arboricultural equipment. The nursery is intended to help the civic body multiply plants throughout the year and reduce dependence on seasonal conditions for propagation.
NDMC has stored around 40,000 tulip bulbs harvested during previous seasons. Officials said approximately 24,000 bulbs would be planted across NDMC areas, while the remaining bulbs would be used in trials aimed at improving bulb size through controlled growth conditions.
For the forthcoming season, NDMC plans to procure approximately 4.7 lakh tulip bulbs. Of these, three lakh bulbs are intended for NDMC areas and 1.7 lakh for areas under the Delhi Development Authority. The civic body will also sell tulips in pots to members of the public.
NDMC is planning to develop a Tulip Garden at Nehru Park this year. Tulips, which were introduced in NDMC areas during 2017-18, will also be planted at prominent locations across the council’s jurisdiction. The lieutenant governor said the local cultivation initiative could serve as a model for other agencies, according to officials cited in the report.
The hi-tech nursery covers around 300 square metres and has a production capacity of 18,000 to 20,000 plants per cycle, with four cycles planned annually. Its facilities are designed to support year-round multiplication and propagation of plants despite seasonal variations.
The visit also covered other parts of NDMC’s horticultural and tree-care system. Sandhu reviewed the functioning of the civic body’s Cactus House, which contains around 400 specimens of different cactus and succulent varieties. He also inspected a tree ambulance equipped to treat diseased and damaged trees.
The programme places seasonal floral displays alongside municipal efforts to maintain nurseries, preserve plant collections and provide treatment for urban trees. The next implementation milestones are the planting of the stored bulbs, procurement for the forthcoming season and the proposed development of the Tulip Garden at Nehru Park.
