How to Grow Tomatillos
This sprawling nightshade yields numerous fruits covered in husks. Tomatillo seeds can be preserved in the same way that tomato seeds can be preserved!When to Start Indoors Tomatillo is a warm-season crop that is sensitive to frost. Six to eight weeks prior to the last spring frost, plant tomatillo seeds indoors. Plant tomatillo seeds 14″ deep in potting soil-filled small containers.When to Transplant Outdoors After the threat of frost has passed and the soil has begun to warm, transplant outdoors in a sunny location.
Spacing Requirements Because the majority of varieties have a bushy growth habit and need a lot of room to grow, keep your plants 24 to 48 inches apart.Special Considerations To contain the plants and keep their foliage off the ground, plants can be staked or trellised.Pests and diseases that affect Tomatillo plants include early blight, anthracnose, late blight, and the tobacco mosaic virus. In your garden, rotate your crops carefully and promptly remove diseased plants.
When and How to Harvest Tomatillo are available in a variety of colors and sizes. The fruit of each variety is surrounded by a netted, papery husk that begins to dry during fruit maturation. Tomatillo should be harvested when they are firm to the touch but appear to give up a little. Ripe fruits are easy to remove from the plant.
Consuming Tomatillo can be sliced into salsa, canned as salsa verde, or pureed into a sauce for tacos or carnitas. For a new take on salsa verde, fruits can also be broiled and pureed with chili peppers. Try canning a green salsa at home if you receive a bumper crop of tomatillo.Tomatillos should be stored at room temperature. If fruits are kept in a warm place after they are picked, they will continue to ripen.
How to Save Tomatillo Seeds Life Cycle Annual Recommended Isolation Distance When saving tomatillo seeds, keep the different varieties separated by 800-1,600 feet.Minimum of five tomatillos should be planted to guarantee viable seed. Seeds from between 20 and 50 plants should be saved for long-term variety maintenance.Assessing Seed Maturity When the fruit is ready to eat, the seeds of the tomatillo are ripe.Squeeze out the pulp and seeds from the inside of the tomatillos to preserve the seeds.
