Family: Solanaceae
Genus and Species: Physalis ixocarpa
Climate
Tomatillos are a hot weather crop. Tomatillos need good soil, water, and heat to do well.
Soil
Tomatillos need light, fertile soil with lots of organic matter. Soil temperature should be at least 80° for good tomatillo seed germination. Tomatillos like deep loose soil - at least 12". Mix in compost or chopped leaves to enhance the soil. Tomatillos do best in soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Tomatillos need low amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Spacing
Space tomatillos 30" apart within rows 2' apart.
Direct Seeding
Direct seed tomatillos in warm climates with long growing seasons in prepared moist beds. Plant seeds 1/2" deep in rows 2' apart. Thin tomatillo seedlings to 30" after seedlings are established. Keep tomatilloes evenly moist during this time.
Seeding For Transplants
Sow tomatillo seeds 1/4" deep in cell trays in late winter. Keep tomatillo seeds evenly moist. Place cell trays under grow lights if available. Transplant tomatillos to larger pots when the seedlings are 3"-5" tall. When transplanting, bury the tomatillo seedlings with soil so 1" of the seedling is visible.
Germination
These seeds germinate best in soils around 80°F-90°F.
Germination will take 7-14 days.
Transplanting Into the Garden
Harden-off tomatillo seedlings two weeks before planting time. Choose a planting date when the soil has warmed to 80°. Bury the tomatillo plants so that only 4" of the starts are visible. Water the tomatillo transplants well and mulch them with straw.
Watering
Tomatillos thrive on even moisture. Use straw mulch on the tomatillo beds to help retain soil moisture. Water tomatillos deeply during dry spells. Water the base of the tomatillo plant, not the foliage. Watering the foliage when tomatillo fruit is maturing can cause the fruit to crack.
Harvesting
Tomatillos are ready for harvest when the fruit fills in the husk. The freshness and greenness of the tomatillo husk is a quality criteria. The tomatillo fruit should be firm and bright green as the green color and acidic flavor are the main culinary contributions of tomatillos.
Harvest tomatillos often and remove all over-ripe tomatillos from the plant. Use a field knife to cut the tomatillos off.
Post-Harvest Handling
Wash and dry tomatilloes thoroughly. Use forced-air cooling for tomatillos going to market. Cooling of tomatillos is primarily done to maintain a fresh green look to the tomatillo husk.
Storage
Tomatillos stored at room temperature will last about 1 week. For longer storage life, keep tomatillos at 41° to 50°F with a relative humidity of 80% to 90%.
Tomatillos are very sensitive to ethylene gas so do not store tomatillos with vegetables and fruits that give off ethylene gas such as apples and pears.
Diseases
Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt and Tobacco Mosaic.
Pests
Tomato Hornworm, Aphids, Flea Beetles, Cutworms, Spider Mites and Nematodes.
Comments
Tomatillos are heavy feeders and respond to environmental conditions much the same as tomatoes. Occassionaly fertilize tomatillos with fish emulsion.
References
Bradley, F. M. and Ellis, B. W.(Ed.). (1992), Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener, Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press.
Smith, E.C. (2000), The vegetable gardener's bible: discover Ed's high yield W-O-R-D system for all North American gardening regions., Storey Books: Pownal, VT.