Nife180
7th May 2009, 06:01 PM
Salam and Hello,
The Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) (from the Arabic: تمر هندي tamar hindi = Indian date) is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic (having only a single species).
The fruit pulp is edible and popular. The hard green pulp of a young fruit is very sour and acidic and is often used as a component of savory dishes. The ripened fruit is less sour and somewhat sweeter. It is used in desserts and sweetened drinks, or as a snack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tamarindus_indica_pods.JPG
Don't let the pictures fool you, under that brown crust is a yummy tingly-sweet pulp.
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I don't know where we got this tree from, I think my dad planted it. I'll ask him if it's from cutting or seed. This tree has started fruiting only 3-4 years ago. At that time we had discovered that It was a tamarind. At the first harvest the fruit was sour, then the second year the quality had improved and we were able to get sweet, store quality tamarinds.
There is a reason I want to root this tree, First I've never seen a tamarind tree in other houses I've passed by. I've seen Figs, Mangoes, Bananas, Citruses, etc, But never a Tamarind. (Note: Do not confuse this tree with Mesquite [Genus: Prosopis] or Honey locust [Genus: Gleditsia] or Brazilian raintree [Pithecellobium tortum] or Tickle Me plant [Mimosa pudica] which have similar leaf arrangements). Second, It's planted In rocky desert ground, It's a legume by the way, So It can get away with this, but It's not so lucky with other nutrients, I don't want it to die as it produces good quality fruit. Currently the Tamarind has finished flowering and fruiting. It is in shedding + vegetative growth state.
I hope to prune the cutting to be a dwarf or a Bonsai, It would be delightful.
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Currently the cutting is in moist potting soil, I've stripped the lower leaves and left the buds and young leaves/few older leaves, with a plastic bag over the cutting to retain moisture, I mist it two times a day. There's a good thing about this tree. The leaves close at night, (Think Tickle Me plant [Mimosa pudica]) and opens during sunrise, So I know when the cuttting is dead, Currently it's alive and It's been 24 Hours since I stuck It in soil, The leaves are closing/opening, Currently It's closed. It's 19:55 here.
I'll post pictures, but I'm having problems with the card reader. I'll try the laying down method of rooting later.
Anyone tried a Tamarind?
The Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) (from the Arabic: تمر هندي tamar hindi = Indian date) is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic (having only a single species).
The fruit pulp is edible and popular. The hard green pulp of a young fruit is very sour and acidic and is often used as a component of savory dishes. The ripened fruit is less sour and somewhat sweeter. It is used in desserts and sweetened drinks, or as a snack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tamarindus_indica_pods.JPG
Don't let the pictures fool you, under that brown crust is a yummy tingly-sweet pulp.
------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know where we got this tree from, I think my dad planted it. I'll ask him if it's from cutting or seed. This tree has started fruiting only 3-4 years ago. At that time we had discovered that It was a tamarind. At the first harvest the fruit was sour, then the second year the quality had improved and we were able to get sweet, store quality tamarinds.
There is a reason I want to root this tree, First I've never seen a tamarind tree in other houses I've passed by. I've seen Figs, Mangoes, Bananas, Citruses, etc, But never a Tamarind. (Note: Do not confuse this tree with Mesquite [Genus: Prosopis] or Honey locust [Genus: Gleditsia] or Brazilian raintree [Pithecellobium tortum] or Tickle Me plant [Mimosa pudica] which have similar leaf arrangements). Second, It's planted In rocky desert ground, It's a legume by the way, So It can get away with this, but It's not so lucky with other nutrients, I don't want it to die as it produces good quality fruit. Currently the Tamarind has finished flowering and fruiting. It is in shedding + vegetative growth state.
I hope to prune the cutting to be a dwarf or a Bonsai, It would be delightful.
------------------------------------------------------------
Currently the cutting is in moist potting soil, I've stripped the lower leaves and left the buds and young leaves/few older leaves, with a plastic bag over the cutting to retain moisture, I mist it two times a day. There's a good thing about this tree. The leaves close at night, (Think Tickle Me plant [Mimosa pudica]) and opens during sunrise, So I know when the cuttting is dead, Currently it's alive and It's been 24 Hours since I stuck It in soil, The leaves are closing/opening, Currently It's closed. It's 19:55 here.
I'll post pictures, but I'm having problems with the card reader. I'll try the laying down method of rooting later.
Anyone tried a Tamarind?