The tomatillo (husk tomato, tomato Verde, ground cherry, jamberry) has the appearance of a green tomato with the calyx covered (wrapping). Green, yellow, orange, purple, or red spherical fruits with a strong, sour, citrus-like flavor are around 1 to 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm) in diameter.
Tomatillos are indeterminate plants since they yield fruit continuously throughout the growing season. Although they are simple to cultivate, just a few gardeners outside of the Southwest choose to raise this food.
If you live in the northern United States, spreading seeds indoors initially is the best option. Otherwise, as soon as the ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ of frost has passed, you may seed them straight in your garden.
You’ll need 2.25 ounces (64 g) of seed per acre on average. Plant seeds six to eight weeks before the final spring frost, about 0.25 inch (0.6 cm) deep in the ground.
If you provide your veggie with the best possible circumstances, 75 percent of the seeds will germinate. Cuttings can be used as a third option.
You may plant your veggie that way since they root rapidly and easily, especially if seedlings are unavailable in your area.
Tomatillos are grown as an annual crop on a vine in the United States. The height of a mature tomatillo plant varies based on growth circumstances and type, but most are between 1.5 and 3 feet tall (46 – 91.5 cm) and 18 to 24 inches broad (46 – 61 cm).
As a result, they require a large amount of room as well as adequate assistance in order to flourish lush and healthy.
Because most kinds grow as bushes, spacing them at least 24 to 48 inches (61 – 122 cm) apart with 4 to 5 feet (1.2 – 1.5 m) between rows.
Tomatillos thrive on well-drained, nutrient-rich, sandy soil with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.0. Because such vegetables are native to a warm area, don’t soak them too much.
Adding a 2 to 3-inch (5–7.6 cm) thick layer of organic mulch, ideally, straw, dried clippings, and leaves around your plants is the best approach to prevent weeds from developing and keep the soil moist.
Low temperatures are extremely harmful to tomatillos. This vegetable should not be sowing or transplanted into the garden until the soil is warm enough and there is no ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ of frost.
Wait until the temperatures reach at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) and the nights get warmer.
Temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 32 degrees Celsius) are excellent for producing tomatillos.
Although greater temperatures will not harm your plants. If the average temperature in your area is above 100 F (37.8), you might consider providing some afternoon shade for your vegetables.
Because these vegetables require a lot of water, you should give them about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm) of water every week. However, be aware that if the soil is too wet, it will not grow.
As a result, between two waterings, let the earth dry. Your plants will grow healthier and lusher, as a result, their root systems will be stronger, and the fruits will ripen faster. Add some organic mulch to your soil to keep it hydrated.
But there’s more! Never water your plants from above, as moist foliage is susceptible to a variety of ɪʟʟɴᴇsses.
Tomatillos don’t require much fertilizer, but you should examine your soil to see what nutrients are there. In general, if potassium and phosphorus are required, it is sufficient to apply them.
However, avoid using too much nitrogen since you don’t want bushy, leafy plants that don’t produce fruit. This crop will benefit from the addition of compost, well-rotted manure, or a well-balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring or fall.
Apply 1 to 2 pounds (0.45–0.9 kg) of fertilizer per 100 square feet (9 m2) of soil, 4 to 6 inches (10–15 cm) deep. You may also use compost tea to feed beneficial bacteria to the soil on a regular basis.
Your tomatillo plants will grow tall and produce a lot of foliage in the beginning. After transplanting, the first fruits should appear in around 60 to 100 days. You’ll see that the plant’s husks crack open as the fruits fill up.
To prevent injuring the stems, cut the fruits from the plant without removing them. You may immediately grab your veggie.
Before eating, remove the husk and wash the fruits to remove a sticky coating. If you wish to keep them, leave the husks on the fruits and store them in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
You may wait a long if you are patient enough since the ripe fruits are considerably tastier. Pull out your tomatillos before the first frost, hang them upside down in a cool spot, and use the fruits for a few months through the winter.
The more tomatillos you harvest, the more will be ready to eat. As a consequence, your plants will continue to produce. In a typical growing season, 60 to 200 fruits per plant (about 2.5 pounds) might be expected (1.1 kg).
Don’t forget to pick all of the fruits to avoid scattering seeds and allowing new plants to sprout uncontrollably the following spring.
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