Description
Shami / Khejri / Wonder Tree Seeds
This is an heirloom vanni variety. Buy Once and Build Your Own Seed Bank
About this variety
A seed with a story
Commonly known as the ‘Wonder Tree’ or ‘Kalpa Taru’ of the desert, Vanni is a highly resilient native tree with immense ecological and cultural significance.
It is a nitrogen-fixing tree that thrives in arid conditions. The pods, known as ‘Sangri’, are used as a nutritious vegetable, and the tree is sacredly associated with victory and Goddess Durga.
Sowing Calendar
When to plant — year at a glance
For Tamil Nadu and most of South India. Highlighted months show the ideal sowing window for this variety. Adjust slightly for your microclimate.
Best Sowing Window: June-July
Grower’s Quick Reference
Everything in one glance
Sun
Full Sun6+ hours of full sun
Water
minimalRequires minimal water once established; drought resistant.
Sowing Depth
1cm—
Spacing
4m x 4mCan be spaced wider for full canopy growth.
Germination Time
7-1525-35°C
Soil
well drained sandy or alluvial soilHighly tolerant to poor and slightly saline soils.
Seed Treatment Method
Prepare your seeds the traditional way
A simple ritual handed down through generations — gentle treatment that improves germination and protects young seedlings naturally.
Soak seeds in tepid water for 24 hours or perform mechanical scarification to break the hard seed coat.
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How To Sow
From seed to seedling
Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing.
Nursery polybags or direct sow in pits.
Keep the soil slightly moist until germination.
Wait 7-15 days.
Tending the Plant
Care through the season
Water regularly for the first year; very drought-tolerant thereafter.
Add organic manure once a year during the monsoon.
Monitor for gall-forming insects on branches.
Pods for vegetables can be harvested after 5-7 years; timber after maturity.
Companion Planting
Plants that love this neighbour
Old wisdom and modern observation agree — these companions help your plant thrive, while a few are best kept apart.
Plant alongside
Best kept apart from
Save Your Own Seeds
One pack. A lifetime of harvests.
Because this is an open-pollinated heirloom — not a hybrid — every plant you grow can become next season’s seed source. Here’s how to keep the lineage alive.
Select healthy, mature pods from the tree.
Allow pods to turn brown and dry on the tree.
Extract seeds and sun-dry.
Store in airtight containers; seeds remain viable for years.
The truest gift of an heirloom seed is the seed it gives back. Save a few each season, share a few with neighbours — and you become part of a chain of gardeners stretching back generations. — From the Manvasanai farm journal
More Details
Everything else you may want to know
Seed specifications
- Plant name: Shami / Khejri / Wonder Tree
- Tamil name: Vanni / Parambai
- Scientific name: Prosopis cineraria
- Variety: Native
- Germination rate: 75-80% (lab-tested)
- Pack size / Quantity: 20 seeds (approx. 20 seeds)
- Seed life when stored properly: 2-5 years
- Type: Open-pollinated · Heirloom · Non-GMO
Sowing & growing summary
- Best sowing time: June-July
- Sowing depth: 1cm
- Spacing: 4m x 4m
- Germination: 7-15 25-35°C
- Days to harvest: 10-15 Years days from sowing
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: minimal
- Soil: well drained sandy or alluvial soil, pH 6.5-8.0
How we grow & harvest these seeds
Storage & shelf life
Common growing challenges
- Poor germination? Most often a result of cold soil, irregular watering, or seeds buried too deep. Soak before sowing, sow at the recommended depth, and keep soil consistently moist.
- Yellowing leaves? Usually a sign of waterlogging or nitrogen deficiency. Improve drainage and apply a compost tea drench.
- Pest attacks? Switch to weekly preventive sprays of neem oil + diluted soap solution. Encourage ladybugs and birds in your garden.
- No flowering? Often too much shade or excess nitrogen. Move to fuller sun and reduce nitrogen-heavy feeds.
Aayush Chauhan (verified owner) –
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