How to Grow Tamarinds USA | Complete Growing Guide

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

A market pile of brown tamarind pods. Photo: Muktee1494, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2 sources cited

Tamarinds (Tamarindus indica) — Long-lived evergreen tree, bearing fruit from seven to ten years old.

Quick Facts

The fine feathery foliage of tamarind — “Feuillage de Tamarindus indica” by KAKPO Sunday Berlioz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Feuillage de Tamarindus indica” by KAKPO Sunday Berlioz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Factor	Value
Soil pH	5.5 - 6.5
Soil texture	Deep, well-drained soils; tolerates poor ground once established
Drainage	Well-drained
Lifecycle	Long-lived evergreen tree, bearing fruit from seven to ten years old.

Soil & Growing Conditions

A mature tamarind tree in full leaf — “Tamarind Plant” by Zakaria Tunsung is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Tamarind Plant” by Zakaria Tunsung is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: Low to moderate; prefers 800-3000 mm but tolerates 300 mm

Soil pH range

5.5 6.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Harvest & Storage

Fallen tamarind pods gathered on the ground — “Black Velvet tamarin in stick” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Black Velvet tamarin in stick” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Trees begin bearing at 7-10 years, with maximum yields from about 15 years onwards. Pods are left on the tree until the shell is brittle and the pulp sticky.

Tamarind through the season

A market pile of brown tamarind pods — “Black Velvet tamarin” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Black Velvet tamarin” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The pods

Brittle brown shells over the sticky sour pulp that flavours pad thai, sambar and a great many chutneys.

Tamarind sold in bowls alongside other produce — “Black Velvet tamarin 01” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Black Velvet tamarin 01” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

At market

Sold as whole pods, as pressed blocks of pulp, and as concentrate. The sourness is tartaric acid.

Gathering

Pods are left on the tree until the shell is brittle, then gathered. UF/IFAS notes they can be messy on hard surfaces.

Tamarind pods and shed leaflets on dry ground — “Black Velvet tamarin 03” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Black Velvet tamarin 03” by Muktee1494 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Pods and leaflets

Trees begin bearing at seven to ten years, with maximum yields from about fifteen onwards.

The foliage

Fine and feathery, casting a light dappled shade -- part of why it is planted as a street and shade tree.

The tamarind canopy seen from below — “Tamarind tree in Raja Ji Than Complex, Manraja” by Biplab Anand is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Tamarind tree in Raja Ji Than Complex, Manraja” by Biplab Anand is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The canopy

UF/IFAS gives 40 to 65 feet tall with a 40 to 50 foot spread in cultivation.

A mature tree

Long-lived and wind-firm. Useful Tropical Plants records heights to 30 m.

A young tamarind growing in the open — “Tamarind Tree (Ghana)” by Zakaria Tunsung is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Tamarind Tree (Ghana)” by Zakaria Tunsung is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Growing on

Full sun and high drought tolerance, on clay, sand or loam, acid or alkaline.

In the dry season

Evergreen in wet climates but deciduous where the dry season is pronounced.

An old tamarind with exposed buttress roots — “Tamarind Roots Exposed Close Termite Mound Luangwa Jul23 A7C 05873” by This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Tamarind Roots Exposed Close Termite Mound Luangwa Jul23 A7C 05873” by This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Old wood

Tamarinds live for generations. USDA zones 10A-11 -- a dormant plant survives to about -3C, but young growth is damaged at -1C.

References

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What soil pH do tamarinds need?

A pH of about 5.5–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

Plan next season before the problems start

Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

US vegetable growing guides · Adapted for USDA hardiness zones and US frost dates

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real US growing conditions, adapted to USDA hardiness zones and US frost-date data, with Cooperative Extension growing advice cited directly where a crop-specific source exists.

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How to Grow Tamarinds USA | Complete Growing Guide

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

Quick Facts

Soil & Growing Conditions

Harvest & Storage

Tamarind through the season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan the next step

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How to Grow Tamarinds USA | Complete Growing Guide

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

Quick Facts

Soil & Growing Conditions

Harvest & Storage

Tamarind through the season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan your veg garden before you dig a single inch

Plan the next step