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Tomatillo

Tomatillo
Introduction
Mr. John Doe

Head Director

Description

Tomatillos are not the same as tomatoes, but they are related and just as easy to grow. Although they are not frost hardy, they can be very prolific. You can grow tomatillos in a garden in your back yard or using containers. Tomatillos have a tangy, citrusy flavor and they are most often used to make green salsa. VARIETIES : Verde, Plaza Latina, Amarylla, Purple
Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Start seedlings in pots of soil 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Tomatillos need to be in soil with good drainage and have full sun for a good part of the day. Select an area that drains well or use an above ground planter. Plant your garden in a sunny area of your yard or position the planter so that it will get lots of sun. Tomatillos also grow well in containers, so you might consider planting tomatillos in terra cotta pots.
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Fill a small terra cotta pot with soil and make a hole 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) deep. Place 1 seed into the hole. Start as many seeds as you want to grow. Place the pots in a sunny windowsill or under grow lights for 14 to 16 hours per day. The seedlings will be ready to plant in the ground or transfer to a larger pot when there are 5 to 7 leaves on each plant and the root system is well developed. Water the plant well the first time. After that, water it about once per week or whenever the soil starts to feel dry. Purchase tomatillo plants if you don’t have time to germinate. Choose at least two healthy looking plants that are not wilted or brown. Tomatillos will not bear fruit unless you plant them side by side. Place them next to each other in containers or in your garden. The wind will carry the pollen from plant to plant. You do not need to do anything to make this happen. Space plants 3 feet (0.91 m) apart. Tomatillos grow about 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) in height and about 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) in width, so it is important to give the plants plenty of room to grow. Plant the plants so that they have 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) between them and other plants. Make sure that the rows are 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) apart as well. Dig a hole that is deep enough to completely cover the roots. The holes will need to be about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) deep to accommodate the plants. You can check to see if the holes are deep enough by placing the plant into them. The top of the soil on the plant should be level with the ground.
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
Similar to tomatoes.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Tomatillo plants produce lots of fruit, and the stems may sag into the soil from the weight of the tomatillos. To avoid sagging stems, place a cage or build a support around the each of the plants. The stems will take root if they sit in the soil long enough. Check the plants regularly and lift any sagging stems up and over the support or use this dynamic to propagate more plants. Tomatillos will easily spread with new shoots. Once the plant has reached the desired size you can pinch them back to control growth.
Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
Tomatillos require regular watering, but it is not necessary to keep them saturated. Plan to water them well once per week, or twice per week during extra hot or dry weather. To reduce the risk of mold developing, try to avoid getting water on the leaves and stems of the tomatillos. Water at the base of the plant instead. They would benefit from a soaker hose system.
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
Weeds can be reduced with organic mulch such as straw.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
When planting seedlings, to enrich the soil before you cover the roots of the plants, mix in some organic mulch, such as grass clippings. Another option is to mix a bag of all-purpose fertilizer into the garden soil before planting, spreading per instructions on the product.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
Tomatillos are part of the nightshade family which makes them susceptible to the same issues as tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, peppers and eggplants. Cutworms – These are worms whose larvae feed on the inside of tomatillos, and on the stems and leaves. Root-knot nematodes – These insects feed on the roots, which causes the plants to wilt. Tobacco budworms – The larvae of these worms eat the inside of tomatillos. Whiteflies – These flies eat the underside of tomatillo leaves. Black spot – This disease causes black spots on the leaves and fruit. Tobacco mosaic virus. This disease causing wilting, decreased size, and reduced yield. Organic solutions include removal of affected plants to prevent the disease from spreading, finding and removing worms or bugs by hand, avoiding moisture on leaves which may result in the need for planting under shelter in rainy areas or in a greenhouse in cooler areas.
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
You’ll know the tomatillo is ripe when the fruit has filled out the paper lantern wrapper and the paper begins to split/dry at the base. You should start to see the first fruits with split husks at around day 65 of your plant’s life cycle. Harvest immediately when you notice split husks. Once the tomatillos start to turn yellow, the fruit will lose its tanginess and will no longer be ideal for making salsa and other dishes where this flavor is desired. Make sure to harvest your tomatillos while they are still green.
How to Harvest:
Pick regularly as they ripen, as you would tomatoes.
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
Use or store fresh tomatillos as soon as possible. Tomatillos will keep at room temperature for up to 1 week after you harvest them. Can also store them in a refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, with the husks on and in a paper bag.
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Tomatillos make excellent salsa which can be preserved in mason jars. To freeze, remove husks, wash well to remove the waxy, sticky layer on the fruit, and place them in plastic freezer bags.
Seed Saving:
Like tomatoes, tomatillo fruits contain many seeds. In ideal growing conditions, tomatillos grow profusely from fruit left in the garden or compost that isn’t hot enough, taking over large growing areas. It is advisable to collect all fruit to avoid having too many “volunteers”. Even if you do this, you will often find that tomatillos appear in your garden from the previous season. This makes tomatillo an excellent garden plant for sustainable food production. To harvest seeds, start by choosing the best looking ripe tomatillos from your most healthy, open-pollinated tomatillo plants. Open-pollinated varieties produce offspring that is true- to-type, versus hybrids where the next generation may not exhibit the same characteristics as its parents. It is advisable to pick from 4-5 of the top tomatillo plants in order to help ensure some degree of genetic diversity. Remove the wrappers. Cut up the fruit into wedges and pop them into a blender. The seeds are small and won’t be damaged by the blade. Then pour this slurry into a tall container and add water. Mix with a spoon or chop stick. The good, viable seed will sink down to the bottom of the container. Pour off the floating green slurry and any floating seeds, adding water and pouring again until the water is clear and the seeds at the bottom are all that’s left. Then sieve out the seeds and lay them out evenly on a coffee filter or thin cloth to dry in a dark place, with good air circulation. Mix them up as they dry so they don’t dry all stuck together. You’ll know they are dry enough for storage when the seed breaks instead of bends under pressure.

Harvest and Storage

Notes

Tomatillo varieties include green or purple. The garden catalog, seed packet or plant tag will give info on growing conditions to help you determine the plant will grow well in your area. You may also consider where you want to plant, such as in the ground or in containers. Purple tomatillos grow especially well in containers and the fruits they produce are smaller than green tomatillos, so this might be a good option if you have a limited area to grow tomatillos.

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