You do not need to do anything to make this happen. 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. Make sure to harvest your tomatillos while they are still green. You can add tomatillos to your compost pile. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. These are worms whose larvae feed on the inside of tomatillos, and on the stems and leaves. Unlike their self-pollinating tomato plant relatives, tomatillos require at least two plants in the same garden in order to bear fruit. You can grow tomatillos in a garden in your back yard or using containers. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. The wind will carry the pollen from plant to plant. Several insecticides can help to control cutworms including. Make sure the plant can get plenty of sunlight and warm temperatures during this period. You’ll need at least two tomatillo plants as they need to cross pollinate with another plant (of the same variety) to produce. The larvae of these worms eat the inside of tomatillos. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Be sure to check the growing conditions on the seed packet or plant tag to determine if the plant will grow well in your area. Use a soil that has been enhanced with nutrients so you can give the seeds a strong start. It is best to use a peat-lined planting tray or peat pots when planting your tomatillo seedlings. You will know when the tomatillos are ready by looking at the outer cover which may have dried or started peeling. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-1.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-2.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-3.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-4.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-5.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-6.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-7.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-8.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-9.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-10.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-11.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-12.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-13.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-14.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Grow-Tomatillos-Step-15.jpg\/aid10064736-v4-728px-Grow-Tomatillos-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2658&context=extension_curall, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705723/your-guide-to-growing-the-biggest-tomatillos-north-of-mexico/, https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/browse/featured-solutions/gardening-landscaping/growing-tomatillos/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. That’s the best time to harvest the tomatillos. A plant may produce 60 to 200 fruits in a growing season (Fig. In commercial operations, the tomatillos are placed in 10-pound cartons in the field. References. Therefore, you need a minimum of two plants to get any fruits at all. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. To store tomatillos in the refrigerator, keep the husks on and place them in a paper bag. After that, water it about once per week or whenever the soil starts to feel dry. As the natural product ages, the papery husk (otherwise called the lamp) will relax, uncovering the organic product inside. For now, feel free to continue reading. Apply a fungicide to the plants. You can use these worksheets to figure out how many plants to plant for your family, just fill out the form below and they’ll be emailed to you. % of people told us that this article helped them. Harvesting is done by hand, typically every day. wikiHow's. There are a few different varieties of tomatillos to choose from. Tomatillos are not the same as tomatoes, but they are related and just as easy to grow. If your windows do not get a lot of sunlight, you can also place the plants under light bulbs for 14 to 16 hours per day. Black spot. It's important to remember that you will need at least two tomatillo plants to ensure pollination and fruit production. Whiteflies. By using our site, you agree to our. Root-knot nematodes. Growing Christmas Trees: Varieties, Planting, Care and Harvest, Growing Melons: Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest, Begonia: Best Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest, Growing Comfrey: The Complete Guide to Plant, Care, and Harvest Comfrey, Growing Sculpit: How to Plant, Care For, and Use This Tasty Herb, Growing Borage: A Complete Guide on How to Plant, Grow, & Harvest Borage, Growing Lemongrass: Best Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest, Growing Peas: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Green Peas, Growing Ginger: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow and Harvest Ginger, Ginseng Plant: Best Varieties, Growing Guide, Care, and Harvest, Growing Broccoli: The Complete Guide to Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Broccoli, Growing Endive: Planting, Caring For, and Harvesting This Versatile Green, Growing Anise: The Beginner’s Guide to Planting and Caring for Anise, Growing Kumquats: Best Varieties, Planting, Care, Problems and Harvest, Growing Raspberries: A Complete Guide on How to Plant, Grow, & Harvest Raspberries, Growing Peanuts: Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest, Growing Radicchio: A Complete Guide on How to Plant, Grow, & Harvest Radicchio, Growing Soybeans: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Soybeans, Runner Beans: Varieties Growing Guide, Problems, and Harvesting, Growing Dill: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow and Harvest Dill, Everything You Need to Know About Growing Orach. Check the plants regularly and lift any sagging stems up and over the cage to support them. Water at the base of the plant instead. 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. Start seeds indoors. Tobacco mosaic virus. ... and potassium, as well. Before planting tomatillos, it's important to know that they require cross-pollination. Make sure that you buy healthy looking plants that are not wilted or brown. To reduce the risk of mold developing, try to avoid getting water on the leaves and stems of the tomatillos. Place the pots in a sunny spot where they will not be disturbed by pets or children, such as up on a high windowsill. Choose a variety of tomatillos. Last Updated: April 16, 2020 You can opt for a green or purple variety of tomatillo. Starting Seeds Tip: Tomatillos can grow up to three feet (one meter), and they need support like a trellis or tomato cage. Disclosure. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This disease causes black spots on the leaves and fruit. The fruit are picked just as the husk, or calyx, bursts. You may also consider where you want to plant, such as in the ground or in containers. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Water the plant well the first time. These insects feed on the roots, which causes the plants to wilt. Each plant will produce about 2.5 – 3 pounds of fruit. This article has been viewed 6,671 times. An average yield is 2½ pounds per plant, or about 9 tons per acre. How Many Tomatillo Plants to Grow? That means … This disease causing wilting, decreased size, and reduced yield. Don’t worry, if you’re saving seeds, the tomatillo will not cross-pollinate with your tomato plants. There are harmful portions of the plant, including the leaves, husk, and stem. The tomatillo plants take about 90-120 days to grow and have tomatillo fruits ready for harvest. Six to eight weeks before your last spring frost date, plant your tomatillo seeds in a seed-starting tray. Keep in mind that the stems will take root if they sit in the soil for too long. 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. One significant difference between the tomato and tomatillo is that you’ll need to plant more than one tomatillo plant in your garden since it’s not self-pollinating. Tobacco budworms. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When using peat pots, you can add 2-3 seeds per pot and thin out once the seeds start to sprout. Tomatillos are self-sterile, meaning the flowers of an individual plant cannot pollinate themselves. These flies eat the underside of tomatillo leaves. Try adding these unique, flavorful fruits to your garden for something new and delicious! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Harden off your seedlings before transplanting them outdoors … If left on the plant too long, the flavor and quality will suffer. Learn more... Tomatillos have a tangy, citrusy flavor and they are most often used to make green salsa. Cutworms. With 1.22 milligrams per 1/2-cup, crude tomatillos are likewise a decent wellspring of niacin, vitamin B that encourages you to transform nourishment into vitality. One important thing to remember when planting tomatillos is that the plants are not self-pollinating. 1). You will need to remove the affected plants to prevent the disease from spreading. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Tomatillos also grow well in containers, so you might consider planting tomatillos in terra cotta pots. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 6,671 times.