CardamomConnect

1

Land Preparation

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Proper land preparation is the foundation of a successful cardamom farm. Choose forest loamy soil with good drainage and a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. The land should ideally have a gentle slope to prevent waterlogging while retaining enough moisture.

Clear the land of weeds and old stumps before ploughing
Plough 2–3 times to loosen the soil to at least 30 cm depth
Add 10–15 tonnes of well-decomposed organic compost per hectare
Maintain 40–50% shade using banana, silver oak, or existing forest trees
Dig pits of 45×45×45 cm size at 2m × 2m spacing before planting

2

Planting & Seedlings

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Selecting high quality seedlings is crucial. Choose disease-free suckers or nursery-grown seedlings from certified varieties like Njallani Green Gold, PV1, or Malabar. The best planting time is June–July during the onset of southwest monsoon.

Use 9–12 month old healthy seedlings with 3–4 leaves
Plant at 2m × 2m spacing — about 2500 plants per hectare
Plant in the evening or on cloudy days to reduce transplant shock
Water immediately after planting
Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture
Replace dead seedlings within 2–3 weeks

3

Watering & Irrigation

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Cardamom needs consistent moisture throughout the year. It requires 1500–2500 mm of annual rainfall. During the dry season from December to May, irrigation is essential to maintain yield and plant health.

Irrigate every 7–10 days during dry months
Use drip irrigation to save water and reduce disease
Avoid waterlogging — ensure good drainage channels
Sprinkler irrigation helps during flowering stage
Mulch with dry leaves to reduce water evaporation
Young plants need more frequent watering than mature ones

4

Fertilizer Schedule

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Balanced nutrition is key to high cardamom yield. Cardamom is a heavy feeder and responds very well to organic manure combined with chemical fertilizers. Follow a proper split dose schedule for best results.

Apply NPK at 60:30:60 kg per hectare per year
Split into 3 doses — March, June, and September
Add 10 kg organic manure per plant annually
Apply fertilizer after weeding and light soil loosening
Use micronutrients like zinc and boron if leaves show yellowing
Avoid fertilizer during heavy rain to prevent runoff

5

Pest & Disease Control

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Cardamom is affected by several pests and diseases that can reduce yield significantly. Early detection and timely action is very important. The most dangerous is Katte disease (mosaic virus) which has no cure.

Katte disease — remove and destroy infected plants immediately
Thrips — spray with neem oil or dimethoate
Root grub — apply chlorpyriphos to soil
Clump rot — improve drainage and apply Bordeaux mixture
Inspect plants every 2 weeks for early signs
Keep the plantation clean — remove dead leaves regularly

6

Harvesting

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Cardamom harvesting requires skill and timing. Capsules should be picked when they are light green and fully mature but before they split open. Harvesting at the right time gives the best aroma, colour, and market price.

Harvest from September to February
Pick every 25–30 days for best quality
Collect only mature green capsules — not yellow or split ones
Cure harvested capsules within 24 hours to preserve green colour
Dry in mechanical dryers at 45–50°C for 14–18 hours
Average yield is 150–200 kg of cured cardamom per hectare