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Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am - 6pm | 813-693-1520
Tamarind-Sweet

Tamarind-Sweet

$55.00 - $75.00
$75.00
$55.00 - $75.00
$75.00
Tamarind Sweet Tree Overview
  • Taste:
    The Tamarind Sweet Tree, a cultivar of Tamarindus indica, produces fruit with a milder, sweeter flavor compared to the tart tamarind varieties. Its brown, sticky pulp offers a pleasant balance of sweetness with subtle tangy undertones, making it ideal for fresh eating, juicing, or use in desserts and sweetened beverages.
  • Best Growing Environment:
    Sweet Tamarind trees excel in hot, tropical climates with temperatures ranging from 75-100°F (24-38°C). They prefer well-draining soils like sandy loam or loamy sand with a pH of 4.5 to 9, thriving in regions with high humidity during growth and drier conditions during fruit ripening to concentrate sugars.
  • Botanical Name:
    The botanical name for the Tamarind Sweet Tree is Tamarindus indica, with "Sweet Tamarind" referring to specific cultivars selected for sweeter fruit within this species, part of the Fabaceae (legume) family.
  • Common Names:
    Known as Sweet Tamarind, Sweet Indian Date, or simply Tamarind in regions where tart varieties are less common, it may also be called by local names such as "Makham Wan" (Thai) or "Tamarindo Dulce" (Spanish), highlighting its sweeter profile.
  • Average Height:
    Sweet Tamarind trees typically grow to an average height of 40 to 60 feet (12-18 meters) in natural settings with a wide-spreading canopy. In cultivation, pruning can keep them at 15-25 feet (4.5-7.6 meters) for easier fruit harvesting and landscape use.
  • Growth Rate:
    The tree has a slow to moderate growth rate, gaining 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) per year under optimal conditions. Seed-grown trees may take 6-8 years to fruit, while grafted cultivars can produce in 3-4 years, with a productive life extending decades.
  • Sun Requirements:
    Full sun is crucial, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to support vigorous growth and maximize fruit sweetness and yield. Partial shade is tolerated but may reduce fruit production.
  • Cold Hardiness:
    Sweet Tamarind trees are frost-sensitive, with mature trees enduring brief dips to 26°F (-3°C) but suffering damage below this threshold. Young trees require protection below 32°F (0°C), making them best suited to frost-free environments.
  • Water Requirements:
    Young trees need consistent watering—once or twice weekly—to establish roots, keeping soil moist but not soggy. Mature trees are highly drought-tolerant, needing irrigation only during prolonged dry periods, with reduced watering in cooler months to avoid excess moisture.
  • Planting Guide:
    Plant in spring in a sunny, well-drained spot, spacing trees 30-40 feet (9-12 meters) apart for in-ground growth or using a large container (20-24 inches wide) with drainage holes for potted trees. Dig a hole twice the root ball’s width and as deep, position the tree at its nursery depth, backfill with native soil (optionally amended with compost), and water deeply.
  • Fertilizing Times and Recommended Fertilizer:
    Fertilize young trees every 2-3 months during the growing season (spring to fall) with 1/4 to 1/2 pound of 6-6-3 NPK fertilizer, increasing to 1-2 pounds as they establish. Mature trees benefit from 3 applications: early spring (March) with 6-6-3 (1-2 pounds), mid-summer (July) with a potassium-rich mix like 0-0-22 to enhance fruit sweetness, and early fall (September) with a light dose. Avoid fertilizing in late fall or winter to promote dormancy.
  • USDA Zone:
    Sweet Tamarind trees are ideally suited to USDA Zones 9b through 11, where they can grow outdoors year-round. In Zone 9b, young trees may require frost protection