Cardamom variety · Farmer selection
Panikulangara Green Bold No.1
Also known as Panikulangara Green Bold
Panikulangara Estate, Idukki, Kerala · Joy Peter · 1993 (selected); 2000 (commercialized); 5th NIF award 2009
Bold capsules (>8mm in 80% of produce) retain bright green color after drying, unlike Njallani. Yields 6-8 kg/plant with 95% berry setting. Superior for rainfed conditions with minimal irrigation and moderate thrips/borer tolerance.
Key facts
| Type | Farmer selection |
|---|---|
| Origin | Panikulangara Estate, Idukki, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | Joy Peter |
| Year released | 1993 (selected); 2000 (commercialized); 5th NIF award 2009 |
| Parentage | Selection from Vazhukka landrace; identified from two exceptional plants in field, propagated vegetatively |
| Yield | 6-8 kg/plant (reported); 1134.67 kg/ha dry (research study) |
| Tolerance | Moderate tolerance to thrips, stem borer, leaf diseases; less prone to Azukal disease |
| Distinctive features | 80% of capsules >8mm size, bold shape; attractive green color retention post-drying; 70-80 productive tillers; short duration (75 days after flowering) |
| Grown in | Idukki, Kerala |
| Also known as | Panikulangara Green Bold |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Panikulangara Green Bold No.1 in detail
A farmer-selected Kerala cardamom with bold green capsules that stay bright after drying, developed for rainfed estates where irrigation and heavy shade are limited.
Origin & story
Joy Peter, a progressive farmer at Panikulangara Estate in Idukki, began selecting for bold, green-retaining cardamom in 1993 and commercialized the variety in 2000 after the Spices Board formally released it that year. The variety earned the 5th National Grassroots Innovation Award in 2009. More than one lakh seedlings have been distributed across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka since commercialization.
How it grows
Grows well under rainfed conditions with minimal irrigation and light shade (around 40%, less than traditional varieties). Productive tillers average 70-80 per clump, and flowering to harvest takes about 75 days. Yields 6-8 kg fresh per plant with a 4.5:1 dry recovery ratio. Shows moderate tolerance to thrips, stem borers, and Azukal disease.
Quality & character
Capsules are distinctly bold, with about 80% of production exceeding 8mm in size, and they retain an attractive green colour after drying rather than fading the way many Malabar-type capsules do. Berry setting reaches around 95% in favourable conditions.
Why it matters to buyers
The green colour retention after drying is the main selling point, and growers favour the variety for estates with poor irrigation access and moderate pest pressure.
About cardamom
In Kerala's rolling spice gardens, cardamom isn't just one plant—it's three distinct botanical types, each with its own character. The Malabar type, with flowers drooping down like a skirt, thrives in the softer elevations of 600–1200 metres. Mysore stands tall and erect, reaching its best between 900–1200 metres on the wind-swept heights. And Vazhukka, a…
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