Cardamom can be propagated through rhizome and also by seeds. For vegetative propagation, rhizomes with an old shoot and a sprout are used. Around 1000 plants can be accommodated in an acre.

Plants propagated vegetatively come to bearing one year earlier than seedling propagated plants and are true to type.

Planting can be done with the commencement of southwest monsoon, before the heavy rains.

Cardamom plantation is raised in forests under the shade of tall trees. Quick growing shade trees like dadap (Erythrina lithosperma) are generally used for this purpose.

Cuttings of shade tree are used for planting. Useful trees like jack and eucalyptus can be used along with red cedar, wild nutmeg, kurangatti etc.

Cardamon is planted in pits of 60 cm x 60 cm x 35 cm. Pits are filled with rich top soil at least two months in advance of planting the seedlings.

If the selected site is a hill slope, terraces may be formed before digging pits.

Application of well decomposed FYM or compost or leaf mould and 100 gram of rock phosphate with the topsoil in the pit will help in proper establishment and quick growth of plants.

The recommended spacing for Mysore and Vazhukka is 2 m x 2 m to 3 m x 2 m and for Malabar it is 1.5 m x 1.5 m to 2 m x 2 m.

A small pit may be formed inside the pit by scooping out soil at the centre of the pit for planting seedlings. The soil may be put just to cover the rhizomes.

Care should be taken to ensure that the rhizomes do not go deep into the soil.