Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a tropical tree that is native to Africa. The fruit, which develops in beanlike pods, is edible and used as a spice in many food dishes. The tree can be propagated by seeds that are started indoors in pots. Because tamarind seeds have a low germination rate, plan to plant at least twice a many seeds as the number of plants you want.

  • Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a tropical tree that is native to Africa.
  • Because tamarind seeds have a low germination rate, plan to plant at least twice a many seeds as the number of plants you want.

Fill a small bowl half full of warm tap water and place the tamarind seeds into it. Set the bowl aside and allow the seeds to soak for two to three hours. Scoop the seeds out with your fingers and place them on a paper towel.

Fill a shallow seed tray with a mixture of half seed starting mix and half course sand. Fill the trays 3/4 full of the mixture.

Place the tamarind seeds onto the surface of the soil spacing them at equal distances apart. If the seed tray has compartments, place two to three seeds in each compartment.

Add additional soil to the pots until the tamarind seeds are covered by 1/4 inch of soil.

  • Fill a shallow seed tray with a mixture of half seed starting mix and half course sand.
  • Add additional soil to the pots until the tamarind seeds are covered by 1/4 inch of soil.

Water the pots until the soil is wet all the way to the bottom of the pot.

Set the pots near a window that receives indirect sunlight and has a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Add additional water as needed to prevent the soil from drying out. The tamarind seeds will germinate in approximately three weeks.

Wait until the seedlings reach approximately 2 inches high and transplant each one into a separate 4- to 5-inch diameter plant pot filled with the same type of soil mixture used previously.