The tamarind tree is easy to grow and it’s a low maintenance plant with a few needs. It is native to Africa and grows as a wild plant in India. It is also grown in various countries such as Southeast Asia, Australia, North America, and South America.
Tamarind tree can survive more than 300 years and it is a slow-growing tree. The leaves of the tree look like acacia leaves. The tropical tree can be able to reach a height up to 90 feet tall and nearly as wide as in a frost-free climate.
Growing tamarind from seed:
The safest methods for home gardeners are to boil water and/or prolonged soaking to break up the hard shell surrounding the workpiece.
Boil water in a kettle. Place the seeds in a cup and pour boiling water over the seeds. Set aside the cup out of the reach of children and pets, and let the seeds soak for at least an hour. Alternatively, place the seeds in a jar and cover them with warm tap water. It allows the seeds to soak for 12 to 24 hours before planting.
Also Read: What is Mango Farming all about? A complete guide
Care for a tamarind tree:
When seedlings emerge, remove the mulch and place them on a bright spot, preferably in full sun, or under an illuminated growing platform for 12 hours or more per day. As the seedlings grow, transplant them into larger containers to accommodate the roots. To grow as an ornamental plant, plant in a shallow ceramic pot. Use a well-drained potting mix or make your own using equal parts coconut fiber, compost, and coarse sand.
Keep the plant moist until it is planted in a container, and then reduce watering. Regularly until you water only when the topsoil is 1 to 2 inches dry.
Fertilize every two to three months with Fertilizer 6-6-3. Add a layer of compost or mulch on top of the soil every two to three months. Pull 3-4 inches away from the barrel.
Wear protective equipment, including gloves and goggles, and disinfect the trimming tools by dipping the blades in isopropyl alcohol or Lysol.
Prune the tree as required to control its growth and size. Remove dead branches of the tamarind tree. When grown as an ornamental plant, you can also carefully trim the roots to make the tree smaller by expanding the trunk.
Mulching:
Every spring, early in the morning, spread a layer of mulch around the tamarind. It helps protect the roots of the tree, prevent weeds and keep the soil moist, mimicking the effect of natural forest covers.
Pruning:
In the mature stage, the tamarind tree grows naturally, has on a characteristic round, generating a few shades under a dense canopy. You do not need to shape the tamarind tree by pruning to achieve this desired property. The University of Florida IFAS Expansion Program notes that some trees can produce multiple crustal stems, which are pieces of bark that form in the area between trunks or between the main trunk and branches, which can damage a weak tree.
This problem can be easily avoided by pruning young tamarind trees. Make sure that the branches growing from the central trunk are separated from each other, rather than growing together. Remove branches that are more than half the trunk. Clean or soak pruning tools in ethanol or isopropyl alcohol between each incision to prevent the spread of the disease.
Also Read: How to Grow a Lemon Tree in Pot | Care and Growing Lemon Tree
Pest and Diseases:
Tamarind trees are very susceptible to pests such as scaly aphids, mealybugs, aphids, moths, and spots on the leaves.
How to grow tamarind tree:
Tamarind may be a tropical tree, it endures gentle winter however growing it outside in an exceedingly colder climate is certainly a nasty idea. If you would like to grow it, grow tamarind trees in a pot and keep them inside or in a greenhouse throughout winter. You’ll conjointly build a pretty tree of the tamarind tree.
Tamarind tree growing requirements:
Sun:
Tamarind requires full sunlight and it loves heat and high-temperature climate.
Soil:
Tamarind loves deep clay soil. It grows well in neutral and sandy conditions such as clay, even saline soils. The soil must be well-drained. To grow tamarind, you don’t need to worry about soil pH. It grows at a pH of around 4.5-9.
Watering:
Water the seedling when the first layer of soil is dry. Once rooted, tamarind does not require irrigation and can tolerate severe drought periods painlessly.
Fertilizers:
Tamarind does not require fertilization, so you can fertilize it as recommended in a soil test to make sure you don’t overdo it. In the absence of soil testing, fertilize young plants every two to three months with 6-6-3 fertilizer or compost. Equivalently, starting at 1/4 pound of fertilizer per plant and gradually increasing to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year, starting at the age of the tree, three to four times per year. If your tamarind tree is fruitful, apply fertilizer 8-3-9 or equivalent organic matter at a rate of 0.5 lb per year to the aged tree on the same schedule three to four times per year.
It is important to check the soil before fertilizing. Your plants need trace minerals like iron, which may be lacking in alkaline soil. The cooperative extension service you live in can do a soil test for a small fee, and all you have to do is bring a soil sample around the tree to your local office.
Health Benefits of tamarind:
- Digestive health is good
- Heart health is good
- Source of iron and good blood circulation
- Aid in nerve function
- Aids in weight loss
- Helps in managing diabetes
Tamarind uses:
Tamarind fruits are used fresh and for the preparation of juices, sauces, jams, drinks, and syrups. Tamarind pulp is used in many South Asian dishes and curry recipes.