How Long Does It Take For A Tamarind Tree To Bear Fruit?

Tamarind trees are very beneficial and versatile trees.  These trees have been cultivated for centuries for a variety of uses. 

The wood from tamarind trees has been used to make furniture, carvings, and more.  The leaves are edible and used in various dishes. 

The bark is even edible when cooked. The seeds inside the fruit are useful and the kernel of the seeds is used to make tamarind seed oil. 

Tamarind kernel powder is also used as a sizing material for textile and jute processing. The fruit is valued for its edible and medicinal pulp. 

In addition to these uses, the fruit pulp is effective metal polish.  It is no wonder so many people want to grow these useful trees.

If you want to grow tamarind trees, you may be interested in how long you will need to wait before you can harvest the beneficial, peanut-shaped fruit it yields. 

You may be surprised to learn that this tree has a growth rate similar to other fruit-bearing trees.  This tree’s moderate rate of growth means that fruit will often appear in three to six years. 

Once your tamarind tree starts bearing fruit, it can produce a lot of fruit depending on the variety of trees you choose. Asian varieties tend to produce more fruit pods than African and West Indies varieties. 

Read below for more details on tamarind tree growth and harvest. 

How long does it take to get fruit from a tamarind tree?

After three to six years of growth, you may notice fruits beginning to form on your tamarind tree. Be patient, as it can also take up to six months before the fruit is ripe enough for harvest. 

The fruit matures in late spring or early summer, so make sure to look for signs of fruit during this time. There are other factors that may affect when you can harvest fruit as well. 

One factor is the variety of tamarind trees you planted. Some varieties grow better than others and may be more or less suited to your area. 

Another factor is the climate in which you live.  A tamarind tree grows best in tropical and sub-tropical areas, but it will grow anywhere it can get plenty of water, pH-balanced and well-drained soil, and warm sun. 

If you want to grow a tamarind tree in a cold environment, you should know that they do not tolerate cold conditions and may not grow. Once your tree starts bearing fruit, you can get up to 350 pounds of fruit per year in the right conditions. 

In optimal climate and soil conditions, a tamarind tree may bear fruit in as little as three years, but in less-than-optimal conditions, a tamarind tree may not produce for up to six years.

How fast does a tamarind tree grow?

How fast your tamarind tree grows will depend on the conditions you are growing it in.  It prefers pH-balanced soil, regular watering, and a tropical climate. If given these conditions, a tamarind tree may grow from 12 to 36 inches each year. 

A mature tamarind tree can grow from 40 to 100 feet in height and have a spread of up to 40 feet wide. The circumference of the trunk ranges from 25 to 50 feet. 

The tamarind tree is a tropical tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall. Tamarind can take up to 10 years to grow from seed to maturity and then bear fruit, but once they start bearing fruit, they will produce fruit for many years.

The amount of fruit produced by a tree depends on the climate, soil, and care that the tree receives. For example, a tamarind tree grown in a hot, dry climate will produce more fruit than a tree grown in a cool climate.

To promote healthy growth in a tamarind tree, a gardener should make sure the roots stay moist between watering sessions. Take care not to overwater the tree, just keep the roots moist and keep an eye on the leaves. 

If they look dried out, they may need more water. For optimal growth, a tamarind tree should be fertilized every three months. Check the pH of the soil around the tree every few months and try to keep it around eight or nine.

The soil around the tree should be well-draining soil to prevent it from being overwatered.  Some growers even perform soil tests to make sure the soil they plant their trees in is conducive to the tree’s growth. 

If you can maintain these conditions for your tamarind tree, it may grow faster.  

How long do tamarind trees live?

Another interesting aspect of the tamarind tree is its lifespan. In the right conditions, a tamarind tree can live for more than 200 years. This quality makes the tamarind tree even more valuable and interesting. 

Although unsubstantiated, some growers say that the commercial lifespan of a tamarind tree is 200 years. In one old tamarind grove located in Sri Lanka, researchers conducted carbon dating that puts some trees at around 400 years old. 

It is certainly safe to say that given the right care and conditions, a tamarind tree will outlast its grower. 

How long does it take tamarind to fruit from seed?

It is entirely possible to grow a tamarind tree from seed. However, it may take anywhere from six to seven years before your tree bears fruit. Growing a tamarind tree from seed can take longer than growing a tamarind tree from cutting or buying a plant from a nursery. 

When growing from cuttings or purchasing a small tree, the fruit may appear in as little as three years or as long as six years depending on the growing conditions. If you are growing a tree from seed, you must first soak the seeds overnight in warm water to speed up germination. 

The next day, sow the seeds ½ inch deep into well-draining soil with a pH between seven and nine.  Germination should occur within a week or two after sowing. Keep your soil moist, but not too moist, as you allow the seedling to grow. 

Once it gets strong enough, you can plant it outdoors in a suitable location with the right soil (and plenty of sunlight). Fertilize your tree every three months or so and keep an eye on the soil. 

Keep a close eye on your tamarind tree in the sixth and seventh years, as it may start producing fruit.