How to Cultivate Cardamom

How to Cultivate Cardamom

Cardamom
Cardamom, also known as Elettaria cardamomum, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). There are two types of cardamom: green cardamom, native to India and Sri Lanka, and black cardamom, native to Nepal and the Indian regions of the Himalayas. The dried fruits of cardamom are used as a spice, known for their aromatic and slightly tangy flavor. Cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world, following saffron and vanilla, and is ranked second after black pepper in terms of its versatility of uses.

Methods of Growing Cardamom

Cardamom can be cultivated easily by following the necessary steps, understanding its propagation methods, meeting its environmental requirements, and knowing the pests and diseases that might affect it and how to prevent them.

Growing Cardamom from Seeds

To grow cardamom using seeds, follow these steps:

1. Wash fresh cardamom seeds with lukewarm water to remove the gelatinous coating around them, then leave them to dry in a shaded area.
2. Place the seeds in a glass container, then place the container in a tray filled with cold tap water so that the water level reaches halfway up the glass container. Leave it for a few minutes until the glass container cools.
3. Add a 2.5% nitric acid solution to the seeds to cover them, stirring the seeds with a spoon for two minutes. Then discard the acid.
4. Rinse the seeds with tap water, then transfer them to a container with lukewarm water and leave them overnight to soften the hard layers around the seeds and break them.
5. After the risk of frost has passed, plant the seeds in rows on the soil surface, maintaining a distance of 1.27–2.54 cm between seeds and 4–6 feet between rows.
6. Cover the seeds with a light layer of soil, then with a thin layer of branches, and finally with some straw or grass. Water the soil thoroughly until it becomes moist.
7. When germination occurs, typically after 20–25 days (although it can take up to 40 days), remove most of the branches and straw, leaving only a thin layer to protect the seedlings from sunlight.
8. Cardamom plants begin to bear fruit starting from the third year after planting. Harvest the fruits by hand when they dry, turn green, and become easy to break.
9. Dry the fruits for 6–7 days and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Growing Cardamom from Rhizomes

Cardamom can also be grown by cutting a piece of the rhizome (underground stem) and replanting it in conditions similar to those of the parent plant.

Environmental Requirements for Growing Cardamom

Cardamom requires specific conditions to grow healthily:

• Location: Choose a shaded location, as cardamom needs protection from direct sunlight. It can be planted near tall trees that provide shade. Alternatively, it can be grown in pots indoors, especially if the soil is prone to freezing in winter. Place the pots in areas with indirect sunlight for 6–8 hours daily, and transfer the plants to larger pots every few years to prevent root entanglement and allow adequate growth. Cardamom plants can grow up to 10 feet tall.
• Soil: Cardamom thrives in loamy soil rich in organic matter such as manure. The soil’s pH should ideally range between 6 and 6.8, although it can tolerate a pH of 5.5–6.
• Water: The soil must remain consistently moist and should not dry out. Provide extra water during summer and fruiting seasons.
• Fertilizer: Fertilize the soil twice a month during the growing season, preferably with phosphorus-rich fertilizers. Organic fertilizers such as aged manure can also be added at a rate of 5 kg per group of plants. Neem cake, the residue from neem fruit after oil extraction, can also be added.

Cardamom Diseases and Pests

The main diseases and pests affecting cardamom include:

• Rhizome Rot: A fungal disease characterized by yellowing plants, pale leaves, collapsing seedlings, and discolored mature plants. Affected plants, including their roots, should be removed.
• Cardamom Thrips: Caused by thrips insects, symptoms include silver spots, white, yellow, or brown streaks on affected areas, and discoloration of young leaf sheaths and unopened flower bracts. It is treated with insecticides.
• Nematodes: Symptoms include reduced plant vitality, stunted and yellow plants, wilting in hot weather, and root swellings up to 3.3 cm in diameter. When nematodes are detected, the soil should be exposed to sunlight to eliminate them.
• Cardamom Fruit Rot: Caused by fungi known as oomycetes, symptoms include water-soaked lesions on stems and leaves, fruit rot, fruit drop, and a foul odor. Prevention involves improving soil drainage, and infected plants should be destroyed by burning.
• Cardamom Mosaic Virus: Symptoms include mottling and discoloration of young leaves, which develop into pale green streaks running parallel to the leaf veins. Infected plants should be replaced with healthy ones.

Health Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom offers numerous health benefits, including:

1. Black cardamom tea sweetened with honey helps treat colds, coughs, and the flu.
2. Alleviates digestive issues such as indigestion, gas, and constipation.
3. Freshens breath due to its cineole content, which combats odor-causing bacteria.
4. Lowers high blood pressure.
5. Detoxifies the body, promoting overall health and longevity.
6. Improves blood circulation and boosts energy levels.
7. Helps regulate blood sugar levels, thanks to its manganese content.
8. Aids in burning fat and losing excess weight.
9. Relieves sleep disorders like anxiety when its aromatic scent is inhaled.
10. Used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to balance the body’s three energies: Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha.