When to Plant Tamarind in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Tamarind guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Tamarind is a large tropical tree with pods of sweet tart pulp like dried apricot, popular in Asian dishes (Daleys). Daleys lists it as evergreen, height 20, frost tolerance medium, harvest September to March.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Harvest September to March. Needs a dry spell during fruit development and does not flower in the wet tropics above 4000 mm of rain (growables, Morton), so the dry tropics suit it best. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
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How to Grow Tamarind in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Wide range from deep alluvial soil to rocky land and limestone; stands salt spray (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun; no source gives a shade rating.
- Keep away from
- Bushland edges and creek lines, it naturalises (Weeds of Australia), Buildings, it is a 20 m tree (Daleys)
Tropical Growing Tips for Tamarind
Recommended Varieties
- Seedling tamarind (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Naturalises in bushland
- Huge tree
Pro Tips
- Plant in the wet season
- Collect every fallen pod
Pests and problems for Tamarind in Tropical
Harvesting Tamarind
When ready: Pods are brown and brittle; fruit may stay on the tree up to 6 months after maturity to dry (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip stalks so the shell is not damaged; never knock pods down with poles (Morton).
Storing and preserving tamarind
How to keep it
- dehydrating. Sun dry or steam pulp blocks for several days (Morton). Keeps: Months (Morton describes sun dried blocks).
- freezing. Shell, deseed, press pulp and freeze in portions. Keeps: Up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- fresh_storage. Leave pods to dry on the tree, shell, then press pulp with sugar into balls or salt into blocks (Morton). Keeps: Pods up to 6 months on the tree, then dry pods in a sealed jar; pulp blocks with sugar or salt keep for months (Morton).
- jams_sauces. Chutneys, curries, sauces, jams, jellies and drinks (Morton). Keeps: Use a tested chutney or sauce method.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Tamarind
When do you plant tamarind in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Oct to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Nov to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Nov to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
When should I plant Tamarind in Cairns?
Harvest September to March. Needs a dry spell during fruit development and does not flower in the wet tropics above 4000 mm of rain (growables, Morton), so the dry tropics suit it best. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
How do I know when Tamarind are ready to harvest?
Pods are brown and brittle; fruit may stay on the tree up to 6 months after maturity to dry (Morton).
What are the best Tamarind varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Seedling tamarind (Daleys).
Are tamarind salt tolerant?
No. Tamarind are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.