How to grow Tomatillo?
- Latin Family: Solanaceae
- Latin Genus: Physalis
- Ease of Growing: Easy
- Growing Type: Annual
The Tomatillo is related to the Tomato and has fairly similar cultivation requirements. The tender plants bear small, spherical and green or purple fruit with an inedible, paper-like husk. Tomatillos are a staple in Mexican cuisine. The Tomatillo is important in Mexican cooking, for its use in salsa verde and other dishes. It is not usually eaten out of hand.
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Tomatillo History
It is likely that the Aztecs domesticated the Tomatillo, also known as the husk tomato. The plant has been dated to about 800 BC.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 6.0 - 6.8
- PH Ideal (min/max): 6.3 - 6.5
The ideal soil is a well-drained, moisture retentive loam, with lots of organic matter.
How to care for Tomatillo?
Generally Tomatillos are independent plants and don't need a lot of attention.
Water
Tomatillos are quite drought tolerant, but for best fruit production they should be watered regularly.
Fertilizer
Generally, Tomatillos are independent plants and don't need a lot of attention. Give them a feed of compost tea or liquid Kelp when the flowers first appear.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 4 - 7 years
Germination Percentage: 75.0
Tomatillos are some of the easiest crops to save seed from. You can save seed from any Tomatillo so long as it is open pollinated and not a hybrid.
To get the seed, simply squeeze it from the ripe fruit.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Plants prefer full sun.
Conditions:Warm, Hot
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
Canning salsa will allow it to keep longer. After filling with contents, process the cans in a boiling hot water bath for 15 min (20 min if at altitudes 1,001-6,000). Store cans in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
If the jars have become unsealed or there are signs of spoilage (bulging lids, bubbling, or odor) do NOT taste and throw away immediately in a place not accessible by humans or animals.
Storage Req: Canning, Cool
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 0-360 days
Store Tomatillos like you do Tomatoes, on the counter for a couple of weeks.
Storage Req:
Storage Temp: 55-65°F
Storage Length: 0-14 days
Problems
Husk Worms
In areas where husk worms are a problem, plant early-maturing varieties crops as early as possible in the spring. (Self-sown plants from the previous year's crop often geta head start on even the earliest plantings.)
Tomatillo Types
- Tomatillo
The Tomatillo is related to the Tomato and has fairly similar cultivation requirements. The tender plants bear small, spherical and green or purple fruit with an inedible, paper-like husk. Tomatillos are a staple in Mexican cuisine. The small fruits are the main ingredient in "Salsa Verde" and a few other salsa recipes.
Pests
- Deer
- Gophers
- Groundhog
- Leafhoppers
- Leafminers
- Aphids
- Colorado Potato Beetle
- Cutworms
- Flea Beetle
- Nematodes
- Slugs and snails
- Stink Bug
- Tomato Hornworm
Diseases
- Anthracnose
- Bacterial Spot
- Southern Bacterial Wilt
- Bacterial Canker
- Tobacco Mosaic Virus
- Fusarium Wilt
- Damping Off
- Early Blight
- Late Blight
- Verticillium Wilt
Related Plants
Ground Cherry
Squash, Summer
Okra
Eggplant
Tomatillo
Squash, Winter
Gourds
Melon
Peppers
Pumpkin