How to Grow Tomatillos: 7 Fundamental Tips

Tomatillos are wonderfully straightforward to grow at home if you can provide the proper environmental conditions. Also called Mexican husk tomatoes, the fruits offer a brightly tangy flavor and appear in many of our favorite recipes, like salsa verde and posole. Keep reading to discover how to grow tomatillos and keep the plants flourishing in your garden until harvest time.

Successfully growing tomatillos is all about proper timing. The plants have a relatively long growing season and require between 75 and 100 warm days to mature, depending on the variety. Most growers start tomatillo seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost date.

If you’ve never tried to grow tomatillos before, rest assured that you’re in for a special treat. These unique green fruits develop a papery outer husk that gradually fills up like a balloon as the tomatillo ripens. These plants are super fun to grow and immensely satisfying to harvest. Let’s find out how to grow tomatillos and care for these spectacular plants.

What You Need to Know to Grow Tomatillos

The best time to plant tomatillos depends on your USDA planting zone. Start tomatillo seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your region’s expected last frost date.

Tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa) are annual plants native to Mexico. Tomatillos belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade plant family, along with tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, peppers, and tobacco. They’re closely related to cape gooseberries (Physalis peruviana) and ground cherries (Physalis philadelphica).

Keep in mind that tomatillo plants are not self-pollinating. That means cross-pollination between two or more plants is necessary for fruit production. To facilitate pollination, plant pollinator-friendly flowers like borage, cosmos, echinacea (coneflower), lavender, marigolds, milkweed, and snapdragons near your tomatillos to attract beneficial insects.

One of the best aspects of homegrown veggies is the ability to try unique varieties that aren’t usually found at the grocery store or farmer’s market. Here are some of the top tomatillo cultivars for home gardens.

Best Tomatillo Varieties

• Amarylla (heirloom, zones 3-10, sweet flavor, 1 to 2-inch fruits ripen from green to yellow, early producing, 24-36 inches tall and wide, 75-100 days to harvest)
• Gigante (heirloom, zones 3-11, super-sweet flavor, 4-inch green fruits, 12-24 inches tall and wide, 60-90 days to harvest)
• Plaza Latina (heirloom, zones 4-11, tangy flavor, 3 to 4-inch yellow-green fruits, drought-tolerant 3-4 feet tall and wide, 80-100 days to harvest)
• Purple de Milpa (heirloom, zones 3-10, sharp flavor, 1 to 2-inch purple fruits, 3-4 feet tall and wide, 70-90 days to harvest)
• Rendidora (heirloom, zones 3-11, tangy citrus flavor, upright growth habit, high yields, 2 to 3-inch pale yellow fruits, 18-24 inches tall and wide, 75-90 days to harvest)
• Tamayo (hybrid, zones 3-9, sweetly tart flavor, high yields, tolerates wet weather, 2 to 3-inch green fruits, 3-4 feet tall and wide, 65-80 days to harvest)
• Toma Verde (heirloom, zones 5-12, tart citrus flavor, drought-tolerant, 2 to 3 inch green fruits, 27-36 inches tall and wide, 60-80 days to harvest)

How to Grow Tomatillos from Seed

Most tomatillo growers start seeds indoors in late winter or early spring. Use a seedling tray, compostable peat pots, or a repurposed cardboard egg carton to grow tomatillo seedlings.

Select a potting blend that’s well-draining and rich in nutrients. Purchase your seeds from a source certified as organic and disease-free.

Press the tiny tomatillo seeds a quarter-inch deep into the soil. It’s a good idea to pre-saturate your soil to avoid disturbing the seeds after planting. Cover the soil surface with a humidity dome or a loose sheet of plastic wrap to retain moisture.

The ideal soil temperature for tomatillo seed germination is between 75-85℉. The process usually takes seven to ten days or longer in cold soil.

Air temperature tends to be warmer than soil temperature. Use a heat mat to maintain consistent soil warmth while the seeds germinate and as the seedlings grow.

Once your tomatillo seedlings sprout, relocate them to a sunny windowsill that gets at least six hours of bright light throughout the day. Rotate the tray every few days so the seedlings develop strong stems by leaning in different directions toward their light source. If you don’t happen to have a sunny spot for them, use grow lights to keep the plants from becoming elongated or “leggy.”

When to Plant Tomatillos

Plant tomatillo seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last spring frost. That way, they’re ready to transplant a week or two after the last danger of frost has passed.

It’s critical to harden off the tender seedlings before transplanting them. Over the course of a week or two, bring the plants outdoors while conditions are warm and mild. Leave them out for progressively longer periods. That way, they can slowly adjust to the harsh realities of the outside world, like wind and direct sunlight. Otherwise, your plants might become stunted or even die from transplant shock.

Optimal Growing Conditions for Tomatillo Plants

Select a planting location that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight each day. Tomatillos grow best in moist, fertile soil and need around an inch of water per week. Apply mulch around the plants’ base to retain moisture, protect against erosion, insulate the ground, and discourage weeds. Use organic materials like bark chips, grass clippings, leaf litter, pine needles, and straw.

Tomatillos tend to have a sprawling growth habit. Support the main stem with stakes, tomato cages, or a trellis to keep the branches off the ground. Spacing between plants should be around three feet to prevent overcrowding and facilitate adequate airflow.

Like most other fruit-producing plants, tomatillos tend to be heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilizing. Plant fertilizer has three prominent macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen encourages green leafy growth; phosphorus supports robust root systems; potassium promotes fruiting and flowering processes.

Add one tablespoon of slow-release, organic, all-purpose fertilizer to the bottom of your planting hole. When the plants begin flowering, switch to a fertilizer with higher phosphorus and potassium levels.

Always follow the instructions listed on the product’s label and avoid overfertilizing, as that inhibits nutrient uptake and damages your soil’s natural microbiome. It’s a good idea to obtain a soil test from your local extension service to find out which nutrients you need to add.

How to Grow Tomatillos in Containers

If you don’t have the space for a garden bed at home, don’t worry. Tomatillos are also ideal for container gardening. Use a pot that holds five or more gallons of soil and has several drainage holes at the bottom. To make sure that your tomatillo harvest is ready in time, it’s still beneficial to start the seedlings indoors as described above.

Planting tomatillos in a pot isn’t very different than growing them in a garden or raised beds. However, container-grown plants often use water and fertilizer more quickly than in-ground plantings. Nutrients will leach out of the potting soil as the water drains out.

Container gardening has several advantages, like reduced risk of pest and disease issues. However, monitoring your plants for signs of damage from pests, including aphids, spider mites, and thrips, is still vital. Provide good air circulation and avoid overwatering to prevent fungal diseases like root rot.

Harvesting and Storing Homegrown Tomatillos

Tomatillos should come off the stem fairly easily, and some varieties fall to the ground once ripe. When tomatillos are ready to harvest, the ripe fruit fills the outer husk, which may start to split open. For the best possible flavor and texture, wait until the fruit is fully mature before picking it.

Store fresh tomatillos with their husks intact. Keep them in a paper bag inside your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Tomatillos usually last for two to three weeks after picking.

Freezing is a fantastic way to extend their shelf life and they’ll stay good for up to one year. Remove the husks, rinse the fruits, and then pat them dry with a clean towel before sealing them in airtight freezer bags.

Resolving Common Pest and Disease Problems

In general, tomatillo plants are remarkably resistant to most pest and disease issues. However, it’s still critical to regularly monitor your plants for signs of distress. Healthy plants tend to be more resilient against attacks from insects and pathogens, so giving them appropriate levels of light, nutrients, and water is the best approach.

Some of the most prevalent tomatillo pests include aphids, flea beetles, leafminers, potato beetles, spider mites, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies. If you notice a severe infestation, spray all plant parts with an organic pesticide like horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or neem oil. Be sure to cover the bottoms of the leaves, as that’s an insect’s favorite hiding spot.

Tomatillo plants occasionally suffer from diseases like black spot and mosaic virus. Black spot presents with dark lesions on the leaves, which may spread to the fruit if the problem goes untreated. Spray with an organic copper or sulfur fungicide. Mosaic virus appears with wilting leaves and stunted growth. Unfortunately, there is no known cure. Remove all affected plants immediately. To learn more about common tomatillo growing problems, check out this post from Texas A&M University.

Companion Planting with Tomatillos

The best gardens are healthy, interactive ecosystems where all the individual components support each other. Companion planting is a traditional garden design technique that utilizes beneficial interactions between certain plants. Some attract beneficial insects, while others deter pests and ward off disease. However, not everyone gets along well, and certain plants must grow separately.

Plant aromatic herbs and flowers alongside your tomatillos. Basil is an excellent pest repellant plant and reportedly enhances tomatillos’ flavor and overall vitality. Cilantro and parsley ward off aphids and cucumber beetles and attract predatory insects that provide natural pest control.

Alliums like chives, garlic, and onions also keep numerous pests away. The shallow roots won’t compete for soil space with neighboring tomatillos. Marigolds fend off beetles, mosquitoes, and root-knot nematodes while attracting pollinators and predators.

Yarrow is a beautiful perennial plant that provides food and habitat for numerous pollinators and predatory insects. Borage does the same and reportedly improves its neighbors’ health and disease resistance.

Avoid planting tomatillos near brassicas like arugula, broccoli, cabbage, and kale. They stunt the growth of nightshade plants and increase the risk of fungal disease. Fennel also secretes growth-inhibiting chemicals from its roots. It should grow in a container or a secluded corner of your garden.

Other nightshades like eggplants, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes should also get planted away from tomatillos. It’s best not to grow crops susceptible to the same pest and disease problems near one another.

Lastly, plant tomatillos apart from tall crops like corn and sunflowers. Tomatillos need all the sunlight they can get and won’t produce as much fruit if larger plants shade them.

Growing tomatillos in your home garden is a fun and rewarding DIY project. Plant them in full sun and rich, well-draining soil to enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, juicy tomatillos. Grow aromatic herbs and flowers nearby to attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects. When harvest time arrives, use all those homegrown tomatillos for making your favorite recipes for green chili, salsa verde, and more.

Do you have any recommendations or questions for planting tomatillos? How about your favorite tomatillo recipes? Please share them in the comments! If you found these gardening tips helpful, please share this article about how to grow tomatillos with your fellow gardening enthusiasts.