Cardamom (small)
ElaichiSpicePerennial
https://agri.bot/crop-calendar/cardamom
Perennial shade-loving spice of the Western Ghats; first harvest 3 years after planting.
Calendar windows are indicative for the major Indian agro-climatic regions. Always cross-check with your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or state agriculture department for recommendations specific to your district, soil type and variety.
Sowing window
New plantings: Jun – Aug (monsoon)
Harvest window
Aug – Feb (peak Sep – Dec)
Major producing states
Kerala · Karnataka · Tamil Nadu (Western Ghats)
Twelve-month operations
| Month | Operations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | |
| February | — | |
| March | — | |
| April | Fertilize | Pre-monsoon dose. |
| May | — | |
| June | SowIntercultural | New plantings with monsoon. |
| July | Spray / IPM | |
| August | Harvest | Harvest peaks Sep – Dec. |
| September | FertilizeHarvest | Post-monsoon dose. |
| October | Harvest | |
| NovemberNow | Harvest | |
| December | Harvest |
Fertilizer schedule
Two split doses per year — pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. Refer ICAR-IISR (Calicut).
Pest & disease management
Thrips, shoot/capsule borer, rhizome rot and katte (mosaic) virus.
Sources
Related ICAR institute
Black pepper — companion Western Ghats perennial spice
Cardamom and black pepper are the two anchor perennial spices of the Western Ghats mixed-plantation system (Idukki, Wayanad, Kodagu, Chikmagalur) — pepper is routinely trailed on silver-oak or jackfruit shade trees over the cardamom understorey. See the pepper calendar for the shared ICAR-IISR Kozhikode package of practices, Phytophthora management and the Spices Board e-auction linkages at Kochi.
Tea — companion Western Ghats and Munnar high-elevation plantation
On the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Western Ghats, small cardamom is the lower-slope understorey while tea occupies the higher slopes above 1,000 m — a shared Munnar / Peermade / Wayanad / Anamalai plantation system. Both crops operate under the Tea Board / Spices Board + MIDH convergence programmes and share shade-regulation, drainage and Phytophthora / blister-blight management practices.
APEDA — Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
Agri Exchange statistics for Indian small cardamom exports (HS 09083120 / 09083130) to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and the US. Cardamom is a scheduled spice under the Spices Board of India — APEDA tracks the trade data and oversees processed value-added preparations.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
Area-expansion and replanting subsidies for small cardamom on Idukki, Wayanad and Kodagu plantations, drip-and-sprinkler irrigation support, rejuvenation of senile gardens and post-harvest curing-chamber infrastructure under the Spices Board – MIDH convergence programme.
See the full India crop calendar for all crops, or check our government schemes page for credit and insurance options for the Perennial season.