Complete cultivation guide

12-Month Cardamom Farming Calendar

A practical calendar derived from the cultivation guide. Shift operations according to local monsoon onset, elevation, irrigation, flowering and pest pressure.

Use this as a planning framework

The source guide gives seasonal windows rather than one fixed calendar for every district. Keep field records and adjust dates to rainfall, temperature, variety, crop age and local advisories.

January
  • Prune dead and hanging leaves without peeling the leaf sheath.
  • Complete December/January hand weeding and soil/foliar nutrient splits where scheduled.
  • Scout aphids, thrips and the January-February borer generation.
  • Tiller production and panicle emergence are active.
February
  • Flowering normally begins; protect bee activity and avoid unnecessary sprays.
  • Thrips population starts rising and can remain high to May.
  • Begin soil sampling during the preferred February-April window.
  • Monitor leaf blight, which may persist in foggy areas through February.
March
  • Begin sucker multiplication as weather permits; continue through September.
  • Regulate shade in new planting areas during March-April.
  • Clean plant bases and prepare sanitation before monsoon.
  • Scout shoot fly and root-grub adults; nursery leaf spot can increase after summer showers.
April
  • Complete shade regulation and soil sampling.
  • Apply zinc or boron foliar correction only where required and diagnosed.
  • Monitor peak shoot-fly activity and root-grub adults.
  • Maintain irrigation without prolonged wetness.
May
  • Apply lime where needed; wait 15-20 days before fertiliser.
  • Apply FYM/compost and undertake trashing after pre-monsoon showers.
  • Hand weed at plant bases and regulate shade in established plantations.
  • Plant nursery material after dependable southwest-monsoon onset; begin preventive rot sanitation.
June
  • Complete field planting and mulching; maintain drainage.
  • Apply first NPK split as planned.
  • Capsule rot may start with southwest monsoon; inspect after heavy rain.
  • Scout May-June borer activity, root grubs and hairy-caterpillar moths.
July
  • Capsule and rhizome rot can become severe; remove infected parts and maintain drainage.
  • Avoid excessive mulch touching the base during heavy monsoon.
  • Apply only need-based, approved protection and observe bee safety.
  • Continue nursery sanitation and avoid waterlogging.
August
  • Continue rot surveillance and second disease-protection window where locally advised.
  • Begin scheduled foliar nutrition in suitable weather.
  • Root-grub adults may appear in August-September.
  • Monitor the end of peak flowering and developing capsules.
September
  • Prune and hand weed; complete sucker multiplication.
  • Apply second lime/manure/nutrient split where scheduled.
  • Use post-monsoon biological rot management at the correct interval from fungicides.
  • Scout the September-October borer generation, thrips and root grubs.
October
  • Continue September/October soil nutrition and October/November foliar feeding.
  • Watch for post-monsoon leaf blight, Fusarium symptoms and capsule quality.
  • Harvest mature capsules and cure promptly.
  • Maintain drainage as rains decline.
November
  • Fork compact soil carefully after the northeast monsoon begins to withdraw.
  • Earth up exposed roots/rhizomes with thin topsoil.
  • Panicle emergence is active from November-March.
  • Shoot-fly activity begins; inspect open or exposed blocks.
December
  • Complete earthing up and December/January weeding.
  • Apply scheduled soil and foliar nutrient splits.
  • Maintain mulch after heavy rains end, keeping the collar aerated.
  • Continue harvest, curing, grading and safe storage where crop is available.
Always-on monitoring

Tasks that continue throughout the year

Moisture

Maintain adequate soil moisture in dry spells while preventing waterlogging and collar wetness.

Sanitation

Remove diseased or heavily infested parts, clean tools and use only healthy planting material.

Pollination

Conserve honeybees and flowering shade trees; avoid unnecessary insecticide sprays during flowering.

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