Other Names — Tamarindus indica, tamarindo, tamarin, tamarinier, tamarinier des Indes, tamarindier, tamarinde, sampalok, asam jawa, ambli, imli, chinch, ma-kharm. Tamarind tree is native to Africa and grows like a wild plant in Indian subcontinent. It’s also grown across Southeast Asia, South America and tropical parts of Australia and North America.

Sun, Soil and Spacing

For optimal health and growth, tamarind needs a full-sun location. University defines full sun as providing at least six hours of direct sunlight each day in the summer. Tamarind trees won’t die if they receive less than this recommendation, but they may not live up to their potential.

Tamarind isn’t too fussy about the type of soil on which it’s planted. Tamarind’s pH tolerance also cuts a wide swath of tolerance – from acidic to alkaline – and it prefers moist to wet soil, as long as the soil drains well and its roots don't sit soggy soil.

If you’re growing more than one tamarind tree, it’s important to consider their mature size so that you properly space them from each other. If they’re planted too close together, their roots can compete with each other for water and nutrients, which could weaken the trees. Purdue recommends spacing trees from 33 to 65 feet apart, and the University of recommends planting trees at least 3 feet from sidewalks and other hardscapes to allow for healthy root growth.

Watering Tamarind Trees

Similar to the watering requirements for most young trees, you’ll need to water tamarind more often until its roots become established, which is when mature trees begin become more drought-tolerant. Two important variables that influence when you’ll need to water your tamarind tree, and how much water to give it, are time of year and type of soil. For example, trees need more water during hot weather, windy conditions and periods of low humidity; and clay soil retains water longer than sandy soil.

A young tamarind tree may benefit from a water basin around its trunk. To make a water basin, build the soil up several inches to form a raised berm around the tree’s root ball. Each time you water a young tree, Taxws A&M Forest Servec recommends filling the basin, letting the water soak into the ground and filling the basin again.

Several days after you water a young tree, check the moisture around the roots by digging into the soil to a depth of 12 inches. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water again; if it’s still moist, check it again in another couple of days. Repeat this procedure a few times until you have a “feel” for how often to water your tree. Once your tamarind tree is mature, you may only need to water it once or twice a month if rainfall doesn't supply enough moisture.

Fertilizing Tamarind Trees

Tamarind has a low fertilization requirement, so you may want to apply fertilizer according to soil-test recommendations to make sure you don’t overdo it. In the absence of a soil test, fertilize young trees every two to three months with 6-6-3 fertilizer or an organic equivalent, starting with an application of 1/4 pound per tree and gradually increasing to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year of a tree’s age, three to four times each year. If your tamarind tree is bearing fruit, fertilize with 8-3-9 or an organic equivalent at the rate of 1/2 pound per year of the tree’s age, at a similar schedule of three to four times each year.

Another reason that it's important to have a soil test before fertilizing your tree is tamarind’s need for microelements, such as iron, which may be lacking in alkaline soils. The cooperative extension service where you live can perform a soil test for a nominal fee, and all you have to do is take a soil sample from around the tree into your local office.

Pruning Tamarind Trees

As it matures, a tamarind tree naturally grows into its characteristic rounded or vase shape, which offers a lot of shade under its dense canopy. You won’t have to shape tamarind by pruning it as a tree to achieve this desirable attribute. But the University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that some trees may produce multiple trunks that have bark inclusions. These inclusions are wedges of bark that form in the area between the trunks, or between a main trunk and a branch, which can weaken a tree.

You can easily prevent this problem by pruning young tamarind plants. Make sure the tree’s branches that are growing from the central trunk are spaced apart instead of growing together. Remove any branches that grow larger than half the size of the trunk. Wipe or dip your pruning tool in ethanol or isopropyl alcohol between each cut to help prevent the spread of disease.

dwarf sweet tamarind Tamarindus indica 1 Healthy live plant seedling

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