Full Sun
High
Tomatillos are almost completely self-incompatible and require at least two plants to normally produce fruit.
As plant is a member of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, all other parts of the tomatillo besides the fruit are inedible.
There are a large variety of tomatillo species, but many are poisonous.
While full sun is best for this plant, light shade is also well tolerated.
Germination inside is the easiest and will ensure that your seedlings aren’t frost damaged.
An optimum soil temp for germination is 27°C, however they will germinate at lower temperatures, albeit more slowly – the soil should be at least 20°C.
Sow at a depth of approx. 0.58 inches (1.5 cm) and aim for a distance of at least 2.47 feet (76.0 cm) between Tomatillo plants. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 20°C / 68°F to ensure good germination.Hardening off is extremely important before transplanting outside. A span of a two-week harden should suffice.
Like tomatoes, you can bury tomatillos quite deeply, leaving only about 4" of the whole plant above soil.
As Tomatillo is tender, ensure temperatures are mild enough to plant out (around 20°C / 68°F as a guideline) - wait until after your last frost date to be on the safe side.Seed viability is four years.
These estimates for how long Tomatillo takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 8 days | Min 2 days | Max 21 days (177)
Average 52 days | Min 14 days | Max 98 days (37)
Average 107 days | Min 46 days | Max 167 days (208)
A Spanish diminutive of tomate, translates to “tomato” in English.
Tomato is a Spanish word taken from the Nahuatl “tomatl” which was a generic word describing globular fruits with a membrane.
Archaeological excavations have shown that this plant has been consumed by the Mexican population since pre-columbian times, and has been found in the valley of Tehuacán on archaeological sites.
Husk tomato, Mexican tomato, Tomate de cascara, Tomate milpero, Tomate verde, Toma verde, Mexican tomatillos, tomate de milpa, Cape gooseberry
Physalis philadelphica
Misspellings: Tomatilo, Tomatilla, tomate de cáscara