Your Step-By-Step Guide To Growing Cardamom From Seeds

Cardamom, also recognised as Elaichi, stands as a beloved spice in Indian cuisine, enhancing the taste of various dishes including tea, biryani, and desserts. Beyond its culinary appeal, cardamom is valued for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Within its pods lie black seeds that impart hints of mint, lemon, and camphor flavours. 

However, the cardamom available in the market raises concerns about its authenticity and potential chemical additives. To avoid this uncertainty, growing your cardamom plant from seeds is a good option.

Below, we present an in-depth guide to growing a cardamom plant in your garden, ensuring a source of pure and organic spice for your culinary journey.

Supplies Needed For Growing Cardamom Plants From Seeds

Quality cardamom seeds: Obtain good-quality cardamom seeds from a reliable source. You can also use seeds extracted from inside cardamom pods for growing cardamom plants.

Potting mixture: Prepare a well-draining potting mix suitable for seed germination, like a combination of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.

Seedling pots or trays: Use small pots or seedling trays for sowing the cardamom seeds.

Warm, moist environment: Create a warm and humid environment for seed germination, such as using a greenhouse, or utilise a heat mat and covering the pots with plastic wrap to mimic a greenhouse effect.

Watering supplies: Keep the potting mix consistently moist during germination using a watering can or spray bottle.

Optional grow lights: If growing indoors, consider using grow lights to provide adequate light for seedling growth.

Optional fertilizer: After the seedlings have grown, you may choose to use a balanced fertiliser to support healthy growth.

These supplies will help you to grow cardamom plants successfully from seeds. However, according to The Spruce, prefer growing your cardamom plant in a culinary garden alongside other shade-tolerant herbs (grow indoor herbs), leafy greens, or vegetables. Alternatively, plant it in a rain garden, where it can thrive in moist soil conditions.

How To Grow Cardamom Plant From Seed?

• Start by getting top-quality cardamom seeds from a reliable source to ensure successful germination.
• Choose appropriate containers like small pots with drainage holes or biodegradable options such as peat pots.
• Prepare a well-draining potting mix by combining equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite to provide the ideal environment for seedlings.
• Plant the cardamom seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in the potting mix-filled containers, ensuring two or three seeds per container to boost germination chances.
• Maintain warm temperatures (around 70-80°F) and high humidity levels by placing the containers in a warm spot or creating a mini-greenhouse effect.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged by using a watering can or spray bottle, avoiding overwatering to prevent fungal issues.

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• Be patient during the germination period, which may take several weeks, and continue to monitor soil moisture and provide suitable conditions.
• Once seedlings have developed true leaves, transplant them into larger containers or directly into the garden with well-draining and organic-rich soil.
• Position the cardamom plants in partial shade with regular watering to maintain soil moisture levels, especially during dry spells.
• Occasionally apply a balanced fertilizer suitable for foliage plants or organic alternatives like compost to promote healthy growth every 4-6 weeks.
• After 2-3 years, harvest the green cardamom pods when fully ripe, dry them thoroughly in a ventilated area until brittle, and store them in airtight containers for future use in cooking.

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Credits: Freepik