Description
Sandalwood Seeds
This is an heirloom sandalwood variety. Buy Once and Build Your Own Seed Bank
About this variety
A seed with a story
Highly valued aromatic and medicinal tree native to South India.
Important: Sandalwood is a hemi-parasite. Young seedlings require a host plant (like Pigeon pea) nearby to survive and grow.
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
moderateEvenly moist early on, drought-tolerant once established
Sowing Depth
2-3cmSow with the stalk end facing up (for cashew).
Spacing
4m x 4m—
Germination Time
15-3025-35°C
Soil
well drained red or sandy loam soilRequires excellent drainage
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 for 24-48 hours before sowing to soften the hard outer shell.
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How To Sow
From seed to seedling
Soak seeds in water for 24-48 hours.
Nursery polybags or direct sow in pits.
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
Wait 2-4 weeks.
Tending the Plant
Care through the season
Regular watering for the first 2-3 years, especially during summer.
Add organic farmyard manure yearly.
Protect seedlings from grazing animals and termites.
Harvest when fully mature (takes years).
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.
Collect seeds from high-yielding, healthy, mature trees.
Allow fruits to fall naturally or harvest fully ripe.
Remove pulp, wash thoroughly, and sun-dry the seeds.
Store in breathable gunny bags in a dry place.
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: Sandalwood
- Tamil name: Santhanam
- Scientific name: Santalum album
- Variety: Native
- Germination rate: 60-75% (lab-tested)
- Pack size / Quantity: 20 Seeds (approx. 20 seeds)
- Seed life when stored properly: 1 year
- Type: Open-pollinated · Heirloom · Non-GMO
Sowing & growing summary
- Best sowing time: June-July
- Sowing depth: 2-3cm
- Spacing: 4m x 4m
- Germination: 15-30 25-35°C
- Days to harvest: 10-15 Years days from sowing
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: moderate
- Soil: well drained red or sandy loam soil, pH 6.0-7.5
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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