How to Grow Cardamom Spice while in Uganda

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Learn How to Grow Cardamom, one of the most expensive spices in the world. Growing cardamom is not that hard, learn how to grow it in this guide that we have prepared for you.

Cardamom is one of the world’s most expensive spices after saffron and vanilla. It has a sweet, burning taste and a very distinctive spicy odor. Due to the variety of uses, cardamon gained a reputation as the queen of spices (king, however, is black pepper).

It is highly used to spice up rice here in Uganda. At least its one of the common spice you won't miss some of the prominent dishes prepared by prominent restaurants around town. Other uses include;

- a principal ingredient in curry powders.

- used as a flavour in confectioneries, liquors and chewing gums.

- some parts of the world it is ground and mixed with coffee.

- in the west it is used in perfumes and in Mexico it is used in chewing gum.

- scandinavians use it to flavour bread, cakes, candies, sausages and meats.

- in Europe cardamom is put in wine and coffee.


Click here to inquire or buy both Cardamon seeds and seedlings/suckers in Uganda

Types of Cardamom spices you should know about

Commonly, you can find two types of cardamom: Green (originating in India and Sri Lanka) and black (in Nepal and Himalayan states of India).

How you can grow cardamom on your farm or garden while in Uganda

You can grow cardamom on your farm or garden in different ways. These are talked about here below to make it easy for you plant the crop. So, let’s get started.

From seeds

You can propagate cardamom from seeds. You can try seeds you get from glossary store, but those seeds are generally treated and not fresh. For best results buy seeds from a seed store. You can also get the seeds from the container village, just opposite Shoprite downtown on the right. There are many seed stores there but be sure to buy the genuine ones or else you can get poor quality seeds.

Click here to inquire or buy both Cardamon seeds and seedlings/suckers in Uganda

From Rhizomes

The easiest way to propagate cardamom is from the division. For this, cut the rhizome with a sharp knife and carefully separate it from the plant.

Replant it under similar conditions. Beware that this technique will also transmit the cardamom mosaic virus from the mother plant to a new plant if it is infected.

Should you find this process difficult for you, please ask for help from someone who has done it before. You can give us a call for help.

How many kilograms of Cardamon spices do you get or harvest from one acre?

This is a common question we get especially from new cardamon farmers. I must however emphasize the type of soil grow your Cardamon on determines a lot, just like it does to any other crop! Well lets get started! We are going to gauge the harvest basing on one acre.

Now Cardamon takes 2 to 3 years to start bearing pods. In the second year you can harvest roughly 200 to 400 kilograms of fresh cardamon pods. When you dry the pods, you get around 100 to 150 kilograms of dried Cardamon pods. Now this is all based on one acre of land.

What are the Growing Conditions for Cardamom as a spice?

Growing Cardamom is difficult. It requires specific growing conditions: Tropical, hot and humid climates are suitable for its growth. It grows in humid or very humid subtropical forests. Where temperature ranges mostly between 18 to 35 C.

Humidity level for growing cardamom is usually near 75%. Areas with such humidity may be found in Areas that grow cardamom Mukono District, Buikwe District, Bundibugyo District, Kabarole District, Jinja District, Kyenjojo Districts respectively.


Click here to inquire or buy both Cardamon seeds and seedlings/suckers in Uganda

What do you require to grow cardamom in your garden or farm?

Positioning of your Cardamom plants in your garden

Plant cardamom in a location with partial shade or filtered sunlight, away from the full direct sun as it grows up to 2 – 4 meters in height under the canopy of much higher trees. When it gets to spacing, its advisable to plant your cardamon 2 by 2 meters apart. This is because the crop expands as it grows older when other young ones begin to sprout out from the mother plant. That's why we recommend a 2 by 2 meter spacing while planting.

Soil suitable for cardamom growing

Sandy, loamy soil that is rich in organic matter and manure is optimal. It requires a slightly acidic to neutral pH level around 6 – 6.8. It can also tolerate acidic soils down to 5.5 – 6.

Key to growing cardamom is the right substrate, which should be well-drained in a way that water should drain out easily, but the soil must remain moist constantly. By moist it doesn’t mean damp or waterlogged soil, the clayey texture of the soil is also not recommended as it kills the plant.

Watering needed for cardamom growing

Cardamom grows in the rain forest. These areas mostly receive rainfall 200 days annually. So it is essential to keep the soil consistently moist, don’t let the soil to dry out ever. In summer or when the plant is setting fruits, increase watering.

Fertilizer application in a cardamom garden

You should apply organic fertilizer that is high in phosphorous in case your soil lacks nutrients. Apply it twice a month during the growing season. Also, apply 5 kg aged manure or compost per clump annually. Application of neem cake is also recommended. You can get these fertilizers from the container village and buy them here in Kampala.

Harvesting and storage of cardamom

Usually, cardamom starts to bear fruit after the third year since planting.

Fruit harvesting must be done manually. You can start collecting fruits when they begin to green, dry and easy to break.

After harvesting, dry the pods for 6 – 7 days and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight to be preserved for a long time.

Pests and diseases for cardamom

It is generally not attacked by pests. However, some of the pests and diseases that attack it are:

Cardamom mosaic virus: It is the most serious disease of cardamom. It is a viral disease transmitted by aphids. To prevent this disease keep your plant healthy and never let aphids infect it.

Rhizomes rot: Its symptoms include chlorosis of leaves, lower leaves become yellowish, premature fruit drop and decay of the rhizomes also happens. It can be caused by high planting density that prevents aeration or by waterlogged soil.

Other pests and diseases that might infect or attack it are cardamom thrips, capsule rot, and nematodes.

Click here to inquire or buy both Cardamon spice seeds and seedlings/suckers in Uganda

What are the health benefits got from Cardamom spices?

- Cardamom is both a spice used in preparing various dishes, and a medicinal herb used to treat painful teeth and bleeding gums can be chewed.

- Sucking Cardamom can help treat a sore throat, a congested respiratory tract, painful teeth, bad breath, and gas filled stomach, and pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation of eyelids, lung congestion and digestive disorders.

- Cardamom is also used to develop an antidote for venom from snake and scorpion. In the past, people used Cardamom as deodorant and breath fresheners.

- Regular consumption of Cardamom lowers the risk of heart disease risks and cholesterol levels.

Storage of Cardamom spices you should know about

The best way to store Cardamom is in a glass or plastic container that is airtight. This helps prevent moisture from getting into it.

Extra care is required when storing Cardamom that is in powder form, as it is more vulnerable to dampness hence getting spoilt.

Therefore, it is best to purchase and store Cardamom in its whole form, and powder it if you need to use it that way.

Our Conclusion

By the time you have read through this guide to the end we are sure that you now have a very deep insight about what Cardamom is and what it takes to grow it. Should you feel like growing it yourself in your garden, please go a head and give it a try. All the best with your Cardamom growing.


Click here to inquire or buy both Cardamon seeds and seedlings/suckers in Uganda