Tomatillos are native plant to Mexico and have been a part of Mexican culture, since 800 B.C. The plants grow to 3 or 4 feet in height with an equal spread. They are indeterminate or sprawling so many gardeners cage or stake them like they do with their tomato plants. The green leaves are heart shaped and the flowers are yellow with a dark star-shaped center.
The husk covered fruit is approximately 3/4 inch to 2 inches in diameter, depending on the variety you are growing. You can eat the fruits raw or in various food recipes. They are a staple in Mexican cuisine, especially when making green salsa. They have a sweet, citrusy flavor, which works well in many recipes. Some varieties produce green fruit, while others are purple.
Tomatillos are not self-pollinating. In order for the plants to set fruit, you need to have at least two plants growing. Fruit matures in 75 to 100 days after transplanting. They will flower and produce fruit until the frost kills them. They prefer to grow in a well-drained soil with a pH level of 7.0. If your soil is clay, plant them in raised beds for better production.
Location
Find a sunny location to grow your tomatillo plants. My mom had hers planted close to the house on the west side where it received lots of sun.
Prepare the Garden Site
Remove the grass and weeds growing in the area. Dig or till the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. Amend the soil with 3 to 4 inches of organic compost to help drainage and to add nutrients to the soil. It is also a good time to apply an application of granular fertilizer or well-rotted manure. The University of Iowa recommends putting 1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet working the fertilizer into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.
Rake the soil to level it and break up hard dirt clods. Remove any rocks, sticks or other debris that the rake brings to the surface. When you finish, the garden area will be smooth.
Harden the Plants Off
Harden off your tomatillos before planting them outdoors. To harden them off, simply take your plants outdoors when the air temperature remains 50° Fahrenheit or more. Place the potted tomatillos in a protected area. Leave them outside for one hour and then take them back inside the house. The next day, do the same thing, but increase the outdoor exposure time to 2 hours. Over the next seven days, keep increasing the outdoor exposure time by two hours. At the end of a week, the plants can then spend a full 24 hours outside. Now when you plant them in the garden, they won’t suffer from shock or have any set backs.
Planting Tomatillos
Tomatillos are like tomato plants. When you dig the planting holes, dig them deep so when you put the plant inside, only the top three pairs of leaves are exposed above the soil line. Fill in around the rootball and stem with soil. It is important to tamp the soil in place with your hands to remove air pockets. Roots will form all along the buried stem, enabling the plant to take up more water and nutrients from the soil. Space the planting holes 3 feet apart in rows that are 3 to 6 feet apart.
Watering
Water the plants thoroughly. Tomatillos can survive on less water than tomato plants, but they do not like drought conditions. They should have at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week for the best fruit production.
Place a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch over the soil to help conserve moisture. This also prevents the weeds from growing. If any weeds do come through, pull them out right away.
Pests and Disease
Few pests will bother the tomatillo plants other than snails or slugs. Blight and foliar disease may be a problem if the weather has been rainy and humid. To reduce this risk, remember to have the proper spacing between each plant. You can also put a cage around the plants to help the air to circulate and keep the foliage dry. If this problem does occur, spray the plants with a fungicide according to the label directions.
Harvesting
It is often hard to know when to harvest the tomatillos because you cannot see inside the husk. Generally, the fruit is ready for harvesting when the husk turns light brown and is still fresh or pliable. It is recommended for maximum flavor not to wait until the husk becomes dry or when the fruit cracks the husk open, because most of the flavor will be lost.
Storage
Pick the tomatillos from the plant and store them in a paper sack in the refrigerator. They will keep for about 2 weeks. If you want a longer storage time, remove the husks before placing them in the refrigerator. To use fresh tomatillos in your recipes, simply remove the husks. Wash the stickiness from the fruit before using the tomatillos in your recipes.
