With just a little bit of care, you can have your very own Elaichi plant at home. Here’s everything about How to Grow Cardamom Plant easily in India!
Cardamom is an exotic spice used in many ways in India. You can add it to biryani, curries, sweets, or even use it as a mouth freshener! As it tastes best when fresh, we bring you everything about How to Grow Cardamom Plant and harvest it, organically!
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What is Cardamom?
Cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world after saffron and vanilla. It comes from the seeds of two genus Elettaria and Amomum species. Elaichi seeds are found in a small pod, which has an outer covering. Popular in Asian cuisine and Middle Eastern dishes.
Common Names—Amomum cardamomum, Elettaria cardamomum, Green Cardamom, Bai Dou Kou, Black Cardamom, Cardamome, Cardamomo, Cardomom, Cardomomi Fructus, Ela , Huile Essentielle de Cardamome, Indian Cardamom, Lesser Cardamom, Kardamom, chhoti elachi, elam and illaichi.
How to Grow Cardamom Plant?
From Seeds
- Get good quality cardamom seeds from a garden center.
- Submerge them in lukewarm water overnight.
- Plant them in a well-draining growing medium the next day.
- The seeds will germinate in 3-4 weeks.
From Division
- Take the entire plant from the ground or pot.
- Look for sections in the roots, and using a clean knife, take out the clumps with roots.
- That’s it! Now plant them directly in the garden or pot.
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Growing Cardamom in Container
The best part about growing cardamom is the fact that you can easily grow it in containers on a bright kitchen windowsill. Start with an 8-10 inches pot, and the plant will do just fine.
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Requirements for Growing Cardamom Plant
Location
For best harvest and growth, ensure that the plant gets a minimum of 3-4 hours of direct sunlight every day. It would be a good idea to keep the plant safe from the harsh afternoon sun.
Soil
The plant is not very much fussy and can do well in regular garden soil. However, it grows best in humus rich soil that’s slightly acidic. Add plenty of organic matter to give it a nice boost in growth.
Watering
This plant is in love with water! So, make sure you are always keeping the growing medium slightly on the moist side. To do so, water the plant when the topsoil feels a little dry to touch. Do not let the soil go dry completely as it will result in smaller cardamom pods.
Temperature
The cardamom plant grows best in hot, humid tropical climates. Keep it between 18–35 °C and it will thrive.
Taking Care of Elaichi Plant
Fertilizer
Fertilize your cardamom plants twice each month during the growing season. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half of its strength. Do refer to the label for specific dosage instructions.
Pests and Diseases
Poor growth could be caused by nematodes and thrips, use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution to knock them off. Give it plenty of air circulation to keep most of the potential diseases at bay.
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Harvesting Cardamom
The pods will be ready to harvest after 30-40 days of flowering. When you see them splitting open, gently pull them off the plant without causing damage to the stems. The ripe ones will be very easy to pluck.