Start seeds indoors. There are harmful portions of the plant, including the leaves, husk, and stem. 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. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Choose a variety of tomatillos. Before planting tomatillos, it's important to know that they require cross-pollination. You can opt for a green or purple variety of tomatillo. These flies eat the underside of tomatillo leaves. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. As the natural product ages, the papery husk (otherwise called the lamp) will relax, uncovering the organic product inside. You’ll need at least two tomatillo plants as they need to cross pollinate with another plant (of the same variety) to produce. Tobacco mosaic virus. A plant may produce 60 to 200 fruits in a growing season (Fig. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Water the plant well the first time. For now, feel free to continue reading. Whiteflies. 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. The fruit are picked just as the husk, or calyx, bursts. It's important to remember that you will need at least two tomatillo plants to ensure pollination and fruit production. Place the pots in a sunny spot where they will not be disturbed by pets or children, such as up on a high windowsill. wikiHow's. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. An average yield is 2½ pounds per plant, or about 9 tons per acre. After that, water it about once per week or whenever the soil starts to feel dry. You will know when the tomatillos are ready by looking at the outer cover which may have dried or started peeling. Try adding these unique, flavorful fruits to your garden for something new and delicious! To store tomatillos in the refrigerator, keep the husks on and place them in a paper bag. Several insecticides can help to control cutworms including. Tomatillos are not the same as tomatoes, but they are related and just as easy to grow. Don’t worry, if you’re saving seeds, the tomatillo will not cross-pollinate with your tomato plants. 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. By using our site, you agree to our. Apply a fungicide to the plants. To reduce the risk of mold developing, try to avoid getting water on the leaves and stems of the tomatillos. {"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":"