Learn how to grow tomatillo or husk tomatoes in your garden to enjoy throughout summer! Read on to find out how to grow tomatillo from seed and how to save the seeds for next season.
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Tomatillos Are Easy To Grow!
Tomatillos are originally from Central America and grow very abundantly, almost like a weed in some places! They thrive in the heat of summer and can be very productive and produce a lot of fruit for bountiful harvests!
How To Grow Tomatillo Plants From Seed
These plants also need a long growing season so start them early by sowing tomatillo seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date in spring.
Sow seeds 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) deep in a good quality seed starting mix
Learn more about starting seeds in this post.
Planting Tomatillo Plants
Transplant your tomatillo seedlings after all risk of frost has passed.
Tomatillos need a second plant nearby for cross-pollination. The plants cannot self pollinate so plant at least 2 plants, 24 inches (60 cm) to 48 inches (121 cm) apart.
Just like tomatoes, the tomatillo plants can be buried up to the first set of leaves on the stem. Place a tomato cage over them to provide support to the sprawling bushes as they grow.
Where To Grow Tomatillo Plants
Tomatillos grow best in a sunny site in your garden.
Work in well-rotted compost into the garden bed before transplanting to give your plants a good nutrient boost as they grow.
Caring For Your Tomatillo Plants
Follow these tips for growing tomatillos in your garden:
- Keep foliage off the ground by using a tomato cage or trellis.
- Avoid giving the plants too much nitrogen, like tomatoes, tomatillos can have problems with blossom end rot.
- Give your plants at least 1.5 inches of water weekly.
- Harvest tomatillos when they have filled the husk and feel firm with a little give. Ripe tomatillos will easily come off the vine.
- Avoid planting tomatillos where you planted tomatoes the previous season. The plants can share many of the same diseases.
- Provide plants with plenty of space to allow for air circulation. Tomatillos are susceptible to fungal diseases so air circulation can help reduce disease problems.
- Feed plants regularly with an organic fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium or try comfrey or seaweed fertilizer.
Tomatillo Companion Plants
Tomatillos grow well when planted near marigolds and basil which help to attract pollinators to the flowers. Remember to grow at least 2 tomatillo plants so they will cross-pollinate!
They also grow well near hot peppers, basil, parsley, onions, and carrots.
Avoid planting tomatillos near fennel and dill.
The Best Tomatillo Varieties To Grow
Tomatillos come in green, yellow, and purple colors. Some great varieties to try are:
- Queen of Malinalco is a gorgeous lemon yellow teardrop-shaped fruit.
- Plaza Latina is a large green tomatillo perfect for salsa verde.
- Cisineros Grande is a large-fruited, green tomatillo
- Purple Keepers Modern Landrace is a purple variety that keeps well in the refrigerator.
Learn more about landrace gardening in this post and see how it can benefit your garden.
How To Save Tomatillo Seeds
If you are wanting to save seeds and keep the variety pure, grow tomatillos 1/2 mile away from other tomatillo varieties.
Collect seeds from over-ripe fruit by harvesting and removing the paper husk wrapper.
Place the tomatillos in a container with a small amount of water, and smash the fruit with a fork, or use a food processor. The good seeds will sink to the bottom. Add water to decant the pulpy mess floating in the top and rinse seeds to clean.
Strain the tomatillo seeds and dry thoroughly. Store seeds in a cool, dry place.
Learn more about seed saving in this post.
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