Just Sharing - Tamarindus indica - Tamarind

[Anthony]

Eldest found as 3 pinnate leaves
around 1980.

Soil mix for all tamarinds in the yard

35 ----5 mm silica based quartz
35-----5 mm crushed red earthenware brick
30 aged compost
[ also testing 3 mm ]

2 Cats fought and broke top and back branches - repairing




If it were from the north of the island the flower would be
red.




young fruit



An air layer done 3 or so years ago
The Lush state
Now to start training

 

[Anthony]

@Gurudas

apologies for the late reply.
How the bark changes.
After 8 to 10 years.
Anthony

 

[HorseloverFat]

Well done, Anthony... I always consider “starting” some basic tamarinds every time I open my cabinet!

 

[Clicio]

@Anthony

Very nice trees as all tamarinds you have been showing here.
Compact and sturdy.
I have a question about the species.
I am growing some from seed, thanks to you. The seedlings are 1 1/2 year old right now.
So the question is why are they becoming so leggy and why all their leaves are so much bigger than yours?
Just because they are too young? Of course the leaves can be reduced later, but the legginess...
Not a matter of sun (they are outdoors at all times), not a matter of soil (similar to yours), not a a matter of heat (we have most of the time the same temperature range as yours).
Humidity, perhaps? Our winters are very dry. Wind? They are somehow protected from strong winds.
Any hint will be welcome!
Thanks in advance.

 

[Mayank]

Eldest found as 3 pinnate leaves
around 1980.

Soil mix for all tamarinds in the yard

35 ----5 mm silica based quartz
35-----5 mm crushed red earthenware brick
30 aged compost
[ also testing 3 mm ]

2 Cats fought and broke top and back branches - repairing

View attachment 319273


If it were from the north of the island the flower would be
red.

View attachment 319274


young fruit

View attachment 319275

An air layer done 3 or so years ago
The Lush state
Now to start training

View attachment 319280

Lovely trees. The flowers are positively exotic. Nice!
I love eating ripe tamarind pods (especially dipped in a salt+cayenne mixture, YUM).

 

[HorseloverFat]

Lovely trees. The flowers are positively exotic. Nice!
I love eating ripe tamarind pods (especially dipped in a salt+cayenne mixture, YUM).

Yes.. YES YESSS!!!

 

[Anthony]

@Clicio ,

firstly, your seedlings' mother, is our eldest tree, seen above.

Secondly, it may be the training technique,
Ground grow for trunk, and a few branches.

But then even the slender trunk trees have some amount of
leaf density.

Or maybe, it is we cut branches after 5 leaves, to change direction
Hope that helps.
Anthony

 

[Clicio]

Or maybe, it is we cut branches after 5 leaves, to change direction

Yes, I am just letting them grow, no cutting yet.
I will do it and let you know the results!
Thanks, @Anthony !

 

[Theo Smith]

@Clicio ,

firstly, your seedlings' mother, is our eldest tree, seen above.

Secondly, it may be the training technique,
Ground grow for trunk, and a few branches.

But then even the slender trunk trees have some amount of
leaf density.

Or maybe, it is we cut branches after 5 leaves, to change direction
Hope that helps.
Anthony

Anthony,

Beautiful specimens as always. I recently acquired a Tamarind and I’m new to the art. I live in South Florida (zone 10a/b) and my tree is doing well. I’m curious about your ground growing techniques and root work. What time of the year do you extract the tree from the ground? Do you use a colander/container or just directly plant it in the ground? I’ve noticed that my tree closes up relatively early in the morning and I’m wondering if it’s receiving too much sun or if the roots are having a hard time supplying water to the leaves. I have BRT’s on the same bench that will close during the midday sun but they open back up in the afternoon. I’m inexperienced with root work and I don’t want to set my tree back or worse.. Thanks for any advice that you’re willing to provide.

 

[Clicio]

I’ve noticed that my tree closes up relatively early in the morning and I’m wondering if it’s receiving too much sun...

@Theo Smith good to hear, we've been having the same issue here.
My BRTs keep the leaflets open in dappled sun, but the Tamarinds don't.
It makes me wonder... As São Paulo's climate is similar to South Florida, a tad warmer.

 

[Anthony]

@Theo Smith , @Clicio ,

[1] Ground growing - the house is surrounded by elevated approx. 18 inch deep
x 12 inch wide troughs - filled with modified loam - used for ground growing.

Some tamarinds grow much thicker trunks than others - faster,

[2] a colander can be used. Removal would be late sping for you.
The seeds are from local trees [ tamarind balls - seeds and meat in sugar/slight pepper,
will decay teeth - tamarind meat is a 4 on the ph scale @Mayank ]

[3] Tamarind trees have been in Trinidad since 1870 or so. Brought
from India, by Hindus. Originally from North Africa.
The seeds have adapted.
In full sun, the section of the tree in light, closes the leaves.

[4] The so-called Sweet Tamarind is a different fish.
New rules.

Suggestion - grow at least 10 efforts.

[2] Test this, branch 3 feet extension on side - does it thicken the trunk ?
Hope this helps.
Anthony

plant trough

 

[Clicio]

[2] Test this, branch 3 feet extension on side - does it thicken the trunk ?

@Anthony yes, thank you, it helps a lot!
I will let it extend and see how thick can I get on this trunk and let you know!

 

[Theo Smith]

@Theo Smith , @Clicio ,

[1] Ground growing - the house is surrounded by elevated approx. 18 inch deep
x 12 inch wide troughs - filled with modified loam - used for ground growing.

Some tamarinds grow much thicker trunks than others - faster,

[2] a colander can be used. Removal would be late sping for you.
The seeds are from local trees [ tamarind balls - seeds and meat in sugar/slight pepper,
will decay teeth - tamarind meat is a 4 on the ph scale @Mayank ]

[3] Tamarind trees have been in Trinidad since 1870 or so. Brought
from India, by Hindus. Originally from North Africa.
The seeds have adapted.
In full sun, the section of the tree in light, closes the leaves.

[4] The so-called Sweet Tamarind is a different fish.
New rules.

Suggestion - grow at least 10 efforts.

[2] Test this, branch 3 feet extension on side - does it thicken the trunk ?
Hope this helps.
Anthony

plant trough

View attachment 320511

Anthony,

Thank you for the detailed reply. I took your advice a while back and I place the trimmed leaves on the soil to help with the PH. It seems to be working. In order to shelter my trees from Hurricane/TS Isaiah, I placed them against the wall of my home and I observed the Tamarind in open leaf well into the afternoon. That definitely backs up what you’ve said/observed about closing in full sun. Thanks again!



Below is a pic of the tree in it’s normal place at 8:30am. Typically it will close by 9:30-10:30am and remain that way for the remainder of the day.

Now, I just need to get rid of these Sri Lankan Weevils!

 

[Anthony]

@Theo Smith

3 questions -

[ 1 ] Ultimate height and trunk size

[ 2 ] first and second branches

[ 3 ] 10 or so trees to practice on?
Good Day
Anthony



tru

 

[Clicio]

Below is a pic of the tree in it’s normal place at 8:30am.

Much, much bigger than mine!

 

[Theo Smith]

@Theo Smith

3 questions -

[ 1 ] Ultimate height and trunk size

[ 2 ] first and second branches

[ 3 ] 10 or so trees to practice on?
Good Day
Anthony



tru

Anthony,

Sorry for the delayed reply, I’ve had a lot going on lately. To give you some background, this is the only Tamarind that I have right now and I got this one to learn on. Being new to the art I’ve tried to stick to having fewer species with more specimens to learn on. In this case I broke that guideline. I went back to the nursery where I purchased this one from and they had no more for sale at the time (bummer). I’m going to add bench space and pick up another couple Tamarinds. To answer
(1) I think the tree should ultimately be roughly 16-18” in height. The nebari is currently 2.5” at its widest point, the front of the tree. I’d want it to be more than 3” before moving into refinement. From what I’ve read, they will thicken relatively quickly in a pot. That’s from reading and I know it would go much faster in the ground.
(2) The first branch is the lowest left and the second is the lowest right branch. Both are on the outside of the trunk curves and I like their height. The first is roughly 6-7” up the trunk.
(3) It’s just this one for the moment but, I’m thinking I’d like to get two more developed to this point or around it and germinate more from seed.

Thanks again for any advice that you’re willing and able to provide. What are your thoughts? Also, I’d add some close up pics with measurements for reference but it’s dark out. I can certainly post those if you think it’d help in your assessment.

 

[Theo Smith]

Much, much bigger than mine!

Well I’m sure yours will grow very fast considering your location and ability! This is the largest tree I currently have that has some potential to make a decent Bonsai. I have some larger, gifted nursery stock that has a long road to travel before it starts looking like Bonsai.