Growing Tomatillos

They are also called tomate verde in Mexico (which means green tomato) and are considered a staple in Mexican cooking. Tomatillo is a member of the nightshade family, related to tomatoes. It now grows everywhere in the Western Hemisphere and is common in Texas gardens.

The fruit of the tomatillo is green and about the size of a large cherry tomato. The inside is white and meatier than a tomato. They grow to maturity inside of a husk. They can range in size from about an inch in diameter to the size of apricots. They are covered by a papery husk which may range from the pale green color of the fruit itself to a light grocery-bag brown. The husks are inedible and should be removed before use.

When growing your own, they are ripe when the tomatillo fills out its papery husk but are still green in color. If they turn yellow, they are still useable but at this stage lose much of their tangy flavor. The plants will grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet (1 m). They are generally available from May through November and are drought tolerant.

Tomatillos need light, fertile soil with lots of organic matter. Soil temperature should be at least 80° F (27 C) for good tomatillo seed germination. Tomatillos like deep loose soil - at least 12 in.(30 cm) 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.

Space tomatillos 30 in.(75 cm) apart within rows 2 ft.(60 cm) apart.

Direct seed tomatillos in warm climates with long growing seasons in prepared moist beds. Plant seeds 1/2 in.(2 cm) deep in rows 2 ft.(60 cm) apart. Thin tomatillo seedlings to 30 in.(75 cm) after seedlings are established. Keep tomatilloes evenly moist during this time.

Sow tomatillo seeds 1/4 in.(1 cm) 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 in.-5in.(7 to 12 cm) tall. When transplanting, bury the tomatillo seedlings with soil so 1 in.(2.5 cm) of the seedling is visible.

These seeds germinate best in soils around 80°F-90°F(27 to 33 C).
Germination will take 7-14 days.

Harden-off tomatillo seedlings two weeks before planting time. Choose a planting date when the soil has warmed to 80°F(27 C). Bury the tomatillo plants so that only 4 in.(10 cm) of the starts are visible. Water the tomatillo transplants well and mulch them with straw.

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.

Some people will let them ripen until they are yellow-white; some even turn purple (the skin at least). The flavor of the fully ripe tomatillo is very sweet and adds an unusual taste to salsas. </< P>

Tomatillos are very easy to cook with because they don't need to be peeled or seeded. Their texture is firm when raw, but soften when cooked. When growing your own fresh tomatillos, they are ready to harvest when the husks burst.

If you are not going to use them immediately, leave the husks intact, wrapped around the fruit like little paper bags. Either store on the counter or in the refrigerator. They should never be stored in air-tight containers. They will keep well for several weeks to a month. They may also be frozen whole or sliced.