Cardamom - Organic Answers Column October 23, 2024
Cardamom: A Potted Plant for Zone 8
The Green Cardamom flower resembles an orchid.
Cardamom plants produce a pungent, aromatic spice that has both sweet and savory applications, commonly used in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Scandinavian dishes and drinks. Also called Green Cardamom and True Cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum is a member of the Ginger family, is native to Asia, and is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows from thick, knobby underground rhizomes. They produce an evergreen plant with erect, 6 to 15 cane-like stems with glossy, 24-inch, lance-shaped, dark green leaves.
These plants do best in sites where conditions are stable year-round.
As a tropical plant, Cardamom grows outdoors in zones 10-12, so if you're planting it in Texas, using a pot will allow you to bring it indoors in cold weather. Plant cardamom outdoors when temperatures reach at least 70F, depending on your region. Leafless flowering stems emerge from the soil in spring to form 2" yellowish-white flowers. The blooms are reminiscent of orchids, with lilac-purple veins and pink or yellow margins. Flowers and stems are not scented but will produce pale yellowish-green 3/4" fruit pods. The pods contain 15 to 20 aromatic black to reddish-brown seeds.
If planting in beds, plant your seeds 1/2 - 1" apart, about 1/8" deep, in a partially shady place. Check local nurseries for seeds or plants, or purchase them online. Once in the ground, staking is only needed for young plants if heavy rains or floods are expected, potentially washing the plants away.
Cardamom is a primary ingredient in curry powder and has many other culinary uses.
Water regularly but do not overwater. Mist foliage regularly. These plants do best in sites where conditions are stable year-round, without much change in the climate, soil moisture, or natural light exposure. Flowers and fruits will only grow in warm conditions. Plant growth will suffer most dramatically if temperatures reach below 50F degrees. Feed with organic fertilizer monthly and spray foliage with Garrett Juice every two weeks.
Given space in a tropical climate cardamom grows quite large.
The best way to harvest this plant is to hand-pick each seed pod or fruit. Harvest when the seed pod begins to split or pulls away easily from the plant. Cardamom is a primary ingredient in curry powder, cardamom flavor rice, meat, vegetables, liquors, and ice cream. In addition to culinary uses, cardamom is also used in cosmetics and perfumery.
Search Library Topics Search Newspaper Columns
