Spices and Condiments

Soil and Climate

• Large cardamom is a shade-loving plant (seophyte) and grows luxuriously from 600 to 2300 m above sea level in a humid, subtropical natural habitat on slopes under the canopy of lofty, evergreen forest trees.
• Moderate shade, high humidity and cool surroundings are essential for its satisfactory growth and production.
• The temperature varies from 10-30°C in the growing areas.
• The average annual rainfall ranges from 200 to 350 cm spread around 200 days. It is highly sensitive to wind and drought.
• The crop grows best on well-drained, rich forest soils with plenty of humus and leaf mould. Since the plant has a lot of surface feeding roots, the soil should essentially be well-drained. Cardamom plantations established on rich and well-drained soils, besides giving higher yields, maintain their productivity for a considerably long period, sometimes for more than 20 years. Water-logged areas are not suitable and hence adequate drainage is essential for better growth along with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.