Cardamom has thick knobby rhizomes, which create upright shoots that bear long, narrow, dark green leaves. Outdoors in tropical climates, cardamom can grow on cane-like stems from 6 to 15 feet tall. Leafy shoots have linear-lanceolate leaves, each shaped like a sword and measuring about 24 inches long. In late spring or summer, leafless flowering stems spread from the base and produce white to yellowish-white flowers, reminiscent of orchids, with lilac-purple veins and pink or yellow margins. Depending on the variety, the hairless stems are either horizontal, upright, or somewhere in between. While the stems are not aromatic, these 1 to 2 inch-long blooms give way to small, aromatic, pale yellowish-green fruit pods. Each oblong, thin-walled, smooth-skinned pod is about 3/4 of an inch long and contains 15-20 aromatic black to reddish-brown seeds. The pods and the seeds inside make up the beloved spice also known as cardamom used in many dishes and drinks.
Light
Give cardamom part shade to full shade. Avoid planting in direct sun and instead, under very tall trees in tropical conditions akin to its native rainforests.
Soil
Grow in fertile, loam-based potting compost. If planting in bright unfiltered light with high humidity, add leaf mold or granulated bark to the soil. Because cardamom needs tropical conditions to produce the optimal amount of fruit, it can thrive especially well under glass.
Water
Mist frequently with rainwater; water regularly but do not overwater. Cardamom does best in sites where conditions are stable year-round, without much change to the climate, soil moisture, or natural light exposure.
Temperature and Humidity
Flowers and fruits will only grow in tropical conditions, so plant Cardamom where daily temperatures rarely go below 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant growth will suffer most dramatically if temperatures reach below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. In semi-tropical or temperate climates, grow cardamom heated indoor greenhouse or a a hot, steamy bathroom. While flowers and fruit will rarely grow indoors, cardamom can make a very attractive houseplant. Set the plant on a dish of consistently moist pebbles. The houseplant will grow much smaller than it does outdoors, to a humble 2 to 4 feet tall.
Harvesting
The way to harvest this plant for the Cardamom spice is to hand-pick each seed pod or fruit. It can be a lot of work, but if you are especially fond of the spice, it can be well worth the effort. Harvest when the seed pod is beginning to split. That’s how you know that they’re ripe and ready to be harvested. Additionally, the seed pod should pull away easily from the plant when you give a tug.
Uses
Cardamom is the third most expensive spice by weight, just behind saffron and vanilla. Cardamom seeds are used in Asian and Indian cooking. There is a long history of trade and consumption for more than 1000 years. In the early 1900s, German coffee planter Oscar Majus Kloeffer introduced cardamom to Guatemala. Until about 1980, India was the largest producer and exporter of cardamom until Guatemala took the lead. While cardamom is used around the globe, some of the main consumers are in Middle Eastern countries where the spice is often added to warm beverages and in Scandinavia countries where it is often added as flavoring to cookies and cakes. As the primary ingredient to curry powder, Cardamom can be used to flavor rice, meat, vegetables, liquors, and ice cream. Guatemala and Mexico now use it to flavor chewing gum. In addition to culinary uses, cardamom can also be included in cosmetics and perfumery.
Pruning
To prune the cardamom plant, remove dropped flower stems in spring.
Propagation
Propagate by dividing the rootball/rhizome or by seed. Let seed pods dry on the plant, then break them open to collect the seeds. Since the seeds do not store well or for very long, sow them as soon as possible.
Common Pests and Diseases
While the cardamom plant is generally free from pests and disease, it may be affected by thrips or by a virus. Keep an eye out for these issues, but most of all, enjoy experimenting with this unique plant and adding a bit of spice to your herb garden.
