ABSTRACT
Cardamom plants start bearing 2-3 years after planting seedlings or suckers. Panicles appear from the bases of plants from January onwards and flowering continues from April-August or even later. Generally flowering is highest during May-June. Fruits mature in about 120 days after flowering. Fruits are small trilocular capsules, containing 15-20 seeds. On maturity seeds turn dark brown to black in colour. A healthy cardamom plant on an average produces annually about 2000 fruits weighing about 900 g, which on drying and curing gives about 200 g marketable produce.
