32 - Tomatillo
Varieties
- De Milpa
- Everona Large Green Tomatillo
Growing Conditions
Life cycle
Planting details
Tomatillo quality can be managed by ensuring that the plants have adequate moisture and fertilizer, and by controlling weeds, insects, and disease. Tomatillos need about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week to maximize production; although, keep in mind that tomatillos prefer drier conditions, so let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Any all-purpose garden fertilizer incorporated into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil should be enough to maximize production. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this will cause an abundance of vegetative growth and no fruit production. Weed control is also crucial to tomatillo quality. Frequent, shallow hoeing can prevent weeds from growing and competing with tomatillos. Insects are not common tomatillo pests due to the papery sheath around the fruit, but keep the fruit off the ground to avoid slug and snail damage. Diseases, such as blights and foliar fungal diseases, can also reduce the quality of the crop. The best way to avoid disease is to ensure that the plants have enough airflow, and that the foliage does not get wet while watering. Keep in mind that many tomatillos are not self-fruitful, so at least two plants are needed to cross-pollinate and produce fruit (insects do the pollinating).
Culture and fertilization requirements
https://extension.sdstate.edu/tomatillos-harvest-and-storage
Harvesting details
Tomatillos will be ready to harvest 75 to 100 days after transplanting. The fruit is ready to harvest when it completely fills the husk and easily falls off the plant when picked. Additionally, the husk will dry out and turn from a green color to a tan color and will begin to split open. The color of fruit itself at maturity varies by cultivar, but green varieties of tomatillos should be harvested before they start to turn yellow or purple. Once green varieties begin to change color, they become soft and lose their tangy flavor. Tomatillos are indeterminate plants, meaning that they will produce fruit continuously throughout the season, which allows for multiple harvests. Most tomatillos are harvested at physiological maturity, but some people prefer to harvest them earlier because they tend to have a stronger flavor if they are harvested a little early.
Tomatillos can be harvested using a pruner or scissors and snipping the fruit from the plant, or by simply twisting the fruit and gently pulling. As mentioned above, tomatillos should come off the plant easily when they are ripe, so there should be no need to pull too hard, as this could damage the plant. Fruit sometimes drops from the plant before it is ripe. Because tomatillos continue to ripen after they are separated from the plant, these can be gathered and stored in their husks until they ripen. As tomatillos are harvested from the plant, they should be placed gently (not tossed) into a clean bucket or harvest bin to avoid bruising and cracking. Be sure to harvest any fruit (ripe or unripe) before a freeze in order to avoid damage to the fruit. The fruit may be sticky if the husk is removed, so it is best to keep the fruit in the husk until it is ready to be used.
Current Seed Start & Transplant Dates
Note: Seed starting and transplant dates do not always correlate one to one with dates shown below. Note correct start and expected transplant dates on the tag of the tray for seed germination. Adjust dates with plant tags on a yearly basis if necessary. 8 ounces of fertilizer is about 1 cup. Consider Sustane various NPK and Alfalfa Meal or Blood Meal for nitrogen.