A Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Cardamom
Cardamom is a medicinal herb, and it is divided into red cardamom and white cardamom. It is mainly grown in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi and other places in our country. It has the effects of resolving dampness, stimulating appetite and aiding digestion, relieving chest tightness, and treating chest and abdominal distension and pain. It generally grows in shady, humid places in mountain gullies or in places with tree shade. So how should cardamom be planted artificially? Let us take a look at its planting methods below.
1. Soil and Fertilizer Preparation
The planting site should have sufficient water sources nearby, fertile soil, and convenient drainage and irrigation. At the same time, the soil should not be too sandy, otherwise it will affect permeability, and rainfall can easily cause the land to become compacted. Deeply plow the land at least 25 cm, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and clean up weed roots, stones, and so on in the field. Finally, apply sufficient farmyard manure (livestock manure) or compost, open furrows and make beds, with a bed width of about 1 m, with the furrows connected to each other, which is good for drainage and water diversion.
2. Seedling Raising Methods
The methods of raising cardamom seedlings include sowing and propagation by division. Sowing for seedlings is generally carried out in August and September each autumn, and the seeds need to be treated before sowing. First, put the seeds into wet river sand and mix them evenly, then put them into a pot, and place them in an environment with a temperature of about 30 to 35 degrees for germination. At the same time, it is necessary to do this frequently to maintain humidity and speed up germination. Generally, sowing can be carried out after about 10 days. Propagation by division is relatively simple; whenever you want to plant, you can dig them up at any time.
3. Building Shade Sheds
After sowing, shade sheds must be built immediately to avoid direct sunlight burning the seedlings. After sowing, we also need to cover the built plastic shed with a layer of rice straw or wheat straw. Then, after the seedlings grow out, part of the straw covering on top needs to be removed, and then the shading level should be gradually reduced. When the seedlings reach about 30 cm, the shade shed can be completely removed.
4. Transplanting Seedlings and Establishing Planting
Transplanting and planting cardamom is generally done in rainy June, or in the rainy season. Then establish the planting according to a row spacing of 1.5 m and a plant spacing of about 1 m. When planting, holes need to be dug in advance, with the width and depth of the holes about 35 cm. Then sprinkle an appropriate amount of farmyard mixed fertilizer into each hole, mix evenly, and plant according to a reasonable density. Each hole needs 2 to 3 seedlings. In order to improve the survival rate of transplanting, water promptly after planting and press the soil firmly.
5. Management After Planting
Cardamom is a perennial plant, so its management after planting must be carried out over many years. Within two years after planting, cultivation and weeding need to be carried out at least 2 to 3 times each year. During cultivation and weeding, deep plowing is not needed, so as not to damage the roots of cardamom and affect the growth of the plants. After two years, cardamom begins to bloom and bear fruit. At this time, we only need to clean the field and apply compost each year after harvesting. In the first two years, topdressing is mainly human and livestock manure water, and later only dry slow-release fertilizer needs to be applied in winter. At the same time, note that during the flowering period, foliar fertilizer should be sprayed in an appropriate amount to improve the fruit-setting rate and increase the yield of cardamom.
The above is what the editor wants to introduce to you today, the planting methods for cardamom. Whether it is red cardamom or white cardamom, the planting methods are basically the same. If you have other questions about planting, or have better planting methods, you can leave a message for the editor.