Planting Cardamon (Elettaria cardamonum) Seed
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Lara Croft
Posted on: January 16, 2005

I would very much like to know if it’s possible to plant the black cardamom spice in soil and expect it to grow? I am sorry if I asked a stupid question but I just discovered that I really like black cardamom and want to have the plant.

The spice you buy in the store has almost invariably been treated with heat to kill any germs that may be on the spice and that kills the seed. Also the cardamon spice is the green fruit of the plant and the seeds would not have been ripe. To get a plant you would do best to purchase one. Richters’ sells the plant and seeds but it is almost impossible to get it to set seed in temperate climates. If you are in zone 8 or warmer, by all means plant your purchased plant out of doors, (in rich, moist but well-drained soil) where it should bloom much more readily. In any case the chopped leaves taste wonderful in curry.

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