Cardamom is the most expensive and a spice that is so aromatic among all the spices. Cultivating this magical spice is both an art and a science which requires a lot of patience and attention to climate conditions, soil conditions and also on the post-harvest process. This guide will show you the essential steps of cardamom farming including its growth, harvesting and also the process of high-quality cardamom.

Understanding the Growth Conditions

Cardamom needs a warm and humid environment with a temperature between 15°C and 35°C. It prefers a tropical rainforest climate with a rainfall of 1500 to 4000mm. This spice grows well at an altitude of 600 to 1500 meters above sea level. It should be grown in partial shade, under tall trees. This is essential to protect the plants from direct sunlight.

Requirements of Soil:

• The soil should be well-drained, loamy, acidic, and have a high organic content. 
• The soil pH should range between 5.5 and 7.0 for optimal growth.
• The aeration should be good and should have a moisture content that is very important for root development.

Plantation and Distribution Method

Cardamom can be grown using seeds but the method is slow, so it is less preferred. This seed transmission method is not desired due to its genetic variations. But I will explain the process of seed distribution. First, cardamom seeds are soaked for 24 hours and then it is sown in the nursery beds under shade. These seedlings take about 8 to 10 months after which it can be transplanted.

Then, the other method is vegetative propagation. The main part of the plant is rhizomes, which store nutrients and help produce new shoots. So, first, choose a disease-free plant that is high-yielding. It should be at least 3 years old. Then, dig out the plant very carefully and cut a rhizome with at least one mature shoot with a growing bud. Finally, the rhizome can be planted directly in the field or in a nursery bed to strengthen it. But keep in mind that the plants should have a spacing between 1.5 to 2 meters.

Planting Method:

Dig a pit that is 30cm from all the 3 sides and it should be filled with organic manure. Tall trees are planted beforehand that will help cardamom plants in growth by providing a suitable micro-environment. Maintain the soil moisture by regular irrigation during dry periods.

Crop Management

• Remember to add a base for the plant with compost or organic manure. You should also give doses in a split of some fertilizers called Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Then add dried leaves which will retain moisture to the roots.

• Cardamom requires moisture but it should not be waterlogged, so use drip irrigation for maintaining the plants efficiently.

• Then regularly provide organic pesticides like neem oil to keep the cardamom plant safe from any diseases and infections. 

Harvesting Process

• Cardamom takes 2 to 3 years to mature and then it starts to give flowers. Normally harvesting season is between August to March but it depends on the region. 

• Cardamom pods are always handpicked when they turn green and mature. Harvesting is done in multiple rounds, as all pods do not ripe at once. Overripods ripe pods lose flavour while the unripe pods don’t have the full aroma

• Then after harvesting, the pods contain high moisture content so they must be dried to preserve their flavour. So there are 2 types of drying methods, they are,

1. The traditional method of Sun drying is done by drying the pods under shade for 7 to 10 days.
2. Then comes mechanical drying which is dried using hot air dryers at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius because it speeds up the process and also keeps the colour and aroma the same.

Packaging

Proper Packaging is important to maintain the aroma, colour and quality of the cardamom pods. Cardamom is very sensitive to temperature change and moisture, so packaging needs to be done effectively that prevent the loss of the essential oils from cardamom and it protects the spice during transportation and storage. So, I will list out the entire process that is done during packaging.

1. Sort & Grade:

• So, before packaging, what is done? Do you have any idea? Yes, your guesses are right as the cardamom is sorted first based on the colour and size. The common grades include:
  • Bold Green: This is premium quality as it is large, bright and is with strong aroma.
  • Medium Green: This medium-sized pod is slightly lighter in colour than the premium quality.
  • Yellow or Mixed: These are the pods that are often used for local markets or grinding and they are yellowish.

In this process, pods are also cleaned to remove dust, foreign materials and any immature shells.

2. Moist Control or Storage Preparation:

• To store cardamom, the suitable moisture level needed is 8 to 12% for storage. If necessary pods are also dried again using machinery dryers to prevent fungal growth. The dried cardamoms are then stored in cool or dry warehouses before they go for packaging.

3. Types of Packaging:

• Cardamom is usually packed in those materials that protect cardamom from moisture and contamination. Packaging differs for both bulk packaging which is for export or wholesale market and another is retail packaging which is used for consumers and supermarkets.
  • In bulk packaging, the most material used for packaging is jute bags, which is used as it is the traditional method to prevent moisture absorption, then comes multi-layer kraft paper bags, which help in moisture and aroma retention and finally comes aluminium foil laminated bags, which is mostly used for premium cardamom to ensure a long shelf life.
  • Coming to retail packaging, for small packaging from 50g to 1kg, polypropylene or polyethylene pouches are used. Then, vacuum-sealed pouches are also used in some cases and finally, Glass or PET jars are used for premium cardamom which offers protection and better shelf life.

4. Packaging process:

• The first step is weighing and filling the cardamom using automated machines or manual fillings. Then, it is sealed using heat, vacuum sealing or zip lock method to maintain the cardamom’s freshness. Then, each package is labelled with the grade, variety, weight, batch number, date of packaging and storage instructions. Finally, it is stored in warehouses at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius with humidity below 60%. Then it is transferred to moisture-proof containers to prevent quality degradation. 

The Final Note

Cardamom farming is a process which needs very careful and consistent crop management. From the start, selecting the ideal location to packaging it, every step is very important. The demand for cardamom is increasing, so adopting the correct process will enhance both profit and yield. So, by integrating traditional techniques with advanced technology, farmers can contribute to the growing spice industry by maintaining the richness of cardamom.

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