Tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa), are plants native to Mexico and around after 800 B.C. They are members of the Solanum family, along with potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. Other common names for tomatillos are pod tomatoes, miltomates, Mexican green tomatoes, jamberberries, and strawberry tomatoes.
Tomatillo plants grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet with an even spread. It is a bad plant with heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It has an indeterminate habit, so many gardeners will put a cage around them as do their tomato plants. After the flowers have faded, the fruits burn, so that the plants look like Chinese lanterns hanging from their stems. Among these papyrus pods, fruit grows and grows. This plant is frost sensitive, but will continue to bloom and produce fruit until the frost pulls them out.
You must have two or more of these growing in your garden or they will not bear fruit. My mother usually grows four plants. That gave him plenty of tomatillo fruit to use in canning recipes and to share with neighbors.
You can buy tomatillo plants in some garden stores, which are often times expensive. If you want to save some money why not propagate your plants from seed. They grow easily. Simply sow seeds indoors in pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. It takes 75 to 100 days after transplanting tomatillos to be ready to harvest.
Wet the soil
potting soil before filling the pots. Pour the potting soil into a bucket or barrel, and then sprinkle water over the soil. Mix the soil with your hands to distribute the water evenly. You want to add enough water to make the soil moist, but not soggy.
Fill Horse
Fill the jet pots with moistened potting soil six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. Place one seed in the middle of each pumpkin. Cover the seeds lightly with potting soil or vermiculite sieve. Cover the soil with your fingers so that the seed coat touches the soil. The ground is cloudy with water.
Location
Cover the jet pots with plastic wrap. This helps to retain moisture so that the tomatillo seeds germinate. Place the cups in a warm place that stays between 70° and 80° Fahrenheit. If you are hot, simply set the temperature on the clock. He often put the pots on top of the refrigerator or freezer. The heat from the orbs warms the earth.
Examine the soil daily for moisture. The soil should be moist, but not soggy. It takes 3 to 10 days for the seeds to germinate.
Remove the plastic when the seeds have germinated and move them to a south-facing window or under grow lights. The temperature should remain around 75° Fahrenheit.
Continue to check the soil and keep it evenly moist. When all danger of frost has passed, transplant the tomatillos into the prepared garden at about the same time as the tomatoes.
