The All India Kitchen Garden Association (AIKGA) Flower Fruit & Vegetable Show this month, at the Gulmohar Park Club grounds, was held after two years. The show received wide participation
from members spread over 30 units across Delhi-NCR. Competition across categories was stiff.
In the cactus and succulents section a vast variety was displayed by members. Cactus flowers are vividly colored and can fill an angan with bright color even in the blazing summer. Corypantha or beehive cactus is a masterpiece in its class with a crowning flower on top. Mammillaria, the largest genre in cacti was also on display. Cactus and succulent have a low requirement of water as it is a desert native and loves the sun. Neither do these require much space to have an impressive collection and are super easy to grow. Tray gardens are space efficient and ideal for limited space. This category saw good participation. Vegetables like tomatoes, brinjals, potatoes, etc require a lot more space. The display of herbs would encourage anyone to start growing herbs if they haven’t already. Organically grown mint, coriander, parsley although used in small quantity are beneficial and add to a dishes flavor. More over much of the plant is used. Very little is wasted.
Fruits tree on the other hand, require to be grown in large pots (atleast 24” or more) or even drums. Not just lemon trees, on display were fruit trees grown on terrace gardens that included chikoo, kamrak, Mandarin orange and guava. The bulbous section had cyclamen, reneculous, lilies and even the usually difficult ones to grow in Delhi – azalea and fuchsia. Tulips were on the show for the first time with members growing those this season with enthusiasm. Special arrangements were made to source Amsterdam bulbs for members.
Landscaping theme this year was ‘Gardening for Environmental Health and Peace. The theme curated Zen elements of ripples, bench for meditation, bells which are a prime part of stupas, bamboo, statue of Buddha, color and scent of flowers, especially elysium for peace and shanti; rocks to symbolize the earth; bonsai to represent patience; urli for water, as it flows its sound is soothing; millets for health; solar and wind for sustainable energy; composting for zero waste and even an element of growing mushroom signifying what’s achievable from organic waste!
With the United Nations declaring 2023 as ‘The Year of the Millet’ themes and stalls sold a variety of millets also known as mota anaj. AIKGA promotes organic (javic) gardening. Its popular training program for gardens covers use of organic methods of preparing bio enzymes and organic insecticides for plant fertilization and growth. A program for urban gardeners, DD’s Chhat Par Bagwani extensively covered the show.
