Cardamom, also known as Elaichi, is a popular Indian Spice which adds flavour to meals. It is also a popular ingredient for tea, biryani or even in Indian desserts. It is not only known for its flavour, but also for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Cardamom pods carry black seeds that hint at the flavour of mint, lemon and camphor. Nowadays, in the market, fake cardamom is also being sold. This often makes us question whether the cardamom we are buying is organically grown or has some chemical in it. Did you know that you can also grow the spice at your home garden or on your terrace? Growing cardamom is quite tricky. The plant has specific growing conditions and will not grow well if each of these are not met. If you are planning to grow cardamom at home, here are some tips that you can follow.
Ensure Climatic Conditions
Cardamom plants grow in warm and humid climates. They need at least 10 degrees celsius to survive; thus, place the plant where the temperature rarely drops below 23 degrees celsius for the spice to grow in a healthy way.
Well-drained Soils
Cardamom plants are grown in well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter. You can use it either in loamy or sandy soil. Make sure you don’t grow them in clayey soil as it retains the water. The soil should be well-drained and just retain the moisture, rather than making it water-logged.
Here is the process of germinating cardamom seed:
Wash the cardamom seeds under running water, then transfer them under running water. You can transfer the cardamom seeds to a bowl of lukewarm water and let them soak overnight.
Make sure your seeds are soft before you plant them in your garden.
Sow the seeds about 1/8 inch on the top of the soil. Make rows 4 to 6 feet apart. With a thin layer of soil, you can cover the cardamom seeds and water them until the soil is moist. Ensure that it gets sufficient light and room for growth.
You can add fertilisers which are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as they are great for the growth of cardamom plants. You can also use NPK fertiliser during their growing period.
For the healthy growth of a cardamom plant, make sure you remove the dead or yellow leaves regularly.