Almond (Badam)All seasonsGrafted planting materialUpdated 2 September 2026

Shalimar

A Kashmir variety with a spreading-to-drooping growth habit, notable for a high reported shelling percentage of about 50%, suited to export-quality kernel production.

SeasonAll seasons

Maturity periodFirst bearing in 3 years (grafted)

Expected yieldGood, with a high proportion of usable kernel per nut

Suitable soilDeep, well-drained temperate orchard loam

Quick facts

Crop: Almond (Badam)
Type: Grafted planting material
Season: All seasons
Maturity period: First bearing in 3 years (grafted)
Expected yield: Good, with a high proportion of usable kernel per nut
Suitable soil: Deep, well-drained temperate orchard loam
Release: SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar campus, Srinagar; exact notification year not confirmed in this pass

About this variety

Shalimar is one of the main Kashmir-region almond varieties, named for the Shalimar campus of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Kashmir) in Srinagar, where much of Kashmir's temperate fruit research is based. It has a distinctive spreading-to-drooping growth habit rather than the more upright form of some other selections, and is particularly noted for a high shelling percentage of roughly 50% — meaning about half of the raw nut's weight is usable kernel, a genuinely strong recovery rate that makes it well suited to export-quality kernel production where kernel weight, not shell bulk, is what buyers pay for.

Key characteristics

Plant typeGrafted planting material

MaturityFirst bearing in 3 years (grafted)

Yield potentialGood, with a high proportion of usable kernel per nut

Disease resistanceNot specifically documented

SoilDeep, well-drained temperate orchard loam

SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

Spacing6–7 m; its spreading-to-drooping habit may benefit from slightly wider spacing than more upright selections
FertilizerA balanced NPK dose while young, moving to a higher, bloom-and-post-harvest-split dose once bearing (see the crop guide for the full schedule)

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil: Deep, well-drained loam; pH 6.0–7.5

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

First bearing in 3 years (grafted)

Expected yield

Good, with a high proportion of usable kernel per nut

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

Brown rot (blossom blight)

Major pests

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

A genuinely high shelling percentage (~50%), a real quality edge for export-oriented kernel sale.
A named, university-linked Kashmir release with a distinct, well-documented growth habit.

Things to consider

Its spreading-to-drooping habit may need slightly different pruning and spacing management than more upright almond selections.
Formal disease-resistance data was not confirmed in this pass — apply the crop's standard brown rot spray programme regardless.

Suitable regions

A Kashmir valley variety, named for the Shalimar campus of SKUAST-Kashmir in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir

Frequently asked questions

What makes Shalimar's high shelling percentage useful?

A ~50% shelling percentage means half the raw nut's weight ends up as usable kernel rather than shell — since buyers pay for kernel, not shell bulk, this genuinely improves the return per kilogram of raw nut harvested, especially for export-oriented sale.

Sourced from: Genetic Diversity in Rosaceous Fruits of J&K: Apple, Apricot, and Almond, Top Almond Varieties Cultivated in India — TractorKarvan. editorial policy.