The Tropical Fruit Forum

Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: JF Paso on August 05, 2022, 08:48:37 AM

Title: velvet tamarind. african locust bean and guajilote
Post by: JF Paso on August 05, 2022, 08:48:37 AM
Have seedling Velvet tamarind (Dialium guineense), African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) and Guajjilote (Parmentiera edulis) and was hoping some of you are growing them and can offer some guidance, tips  on cultivation since there is so little out there.

Here are some things I have noticed;
African Locust Bean---
---fast germination
----seeds germinated at the same time
----fast growing,
----growth slows if not potted up
----happy in my mix of potting soil, perlite and sand
----grows faster in full sun but can take partial shade

Velvet Tamarind
----Staggered germination, still germinating after 3 months
----difference in growth among seedlings, but more on the moderate/slow side
----resents repotting, at least from the seedling trays, have learned to grow them in deeper community pot then seedling trays so they can develop more before repotting which seemed to work better for me.
----resented moving from seedling mix to my regular potting mix (leaves yellowed) so I moved them to a higher peat mixture and they greened up -- so thinking they are acid lovers?
----seem to grow better as seedlings under partial shade
----only two out of 20 have branched

Guahilote
---100% germination
----nothing seems to bother these
----likes full sun
----likes my potting mix so not paraticular about ph?
----moderate and bushy growth

These are my fun seeds, not looking or expecting anything, although always wondering why I planted so many :)

Ok, so that's all I know and if any of you can fill in any blanks, I would be very appreciative.
Title: Re: velvet tamarind. african locust bean and guajilote
Post by: Finca La Isla on August 05, 2022, 09:56:27 AM
We have two kinds of guajilote, the candle and the cucumber. They grow easily. The one that makes the cucumber shaped fruit has been in production for 2-3 years and the fruits are a pleasant novelty. The other is still too small to produce.
It sounds like you are doing well with it although your climate is very different to mine. We get an average of 150” of well distributed rainfall here per year.
Peter
Title: Re: velvet tamarind. african locust bean and guajilote
Post by: JF Paso on August 07, 2022, 08:35:41 AM
Thanks Peter, so maybe not as drought tollerant as I thought.  The description of the fruit is that it was reminiscent of sugarcane. 
Title: Re: velvet tamarind. african locust bean and guajilote
Post by: Finca La Isla on August 07, 2022, 09:12:54 AM
I think that the fruit would be interesting chopped into a salad. It is sweet without the fiber of sugarcane. I think it started to produce after about 3 years. It could probably produce in a large pot.
Peter