Tomatillo Success

GoDawgs · July 13, 2019

My first effort at growing these seemingly easy plants last year was a bust. They all suddenly wilted although grown in containers and with the same potting mix the tomatoes were thriving in. Go figure. As I mentioned then, I always give every new thing three tries before I give up.

This year... success! The plants aren't as nice and full as those in photos folks have posted but they're making tomatillos! variety is Everona.

And today I picked the first ones as their husks were starting to split.

Now to make some salsa verde!

JRinPA · July 13, 2019

I hope it was worth the wait!
Did you do anything different?

GoDawgs · July 14, 2019

Same growing mix, same containers, same watering and fertilizer regimen. The only difference was that they got more sun this year. Last year they were in shade until noon when the sun swung around enough to light 'em up for the rest of the day.

This year they're on the other side of the garden with some tomatoes in all day full sun. And they're sitting on pallets this year, not sitting on the ground. I can't grow tomatoes in the ground in the garden due to wilt in the soil, thus the containers. Perhaps the wilt entered last year's plants through the drain holes? I have no idea if that's possible but onto pallets they went!

I found a salsa verde recipe last night online. They all seem pretty much the same except that some roast the veggies and some don't. There are other kitchen projects lined up for today (zucchini bread, english muffin bread and putting up some pickled jalapeno slices) so the salsa will most likely happen tomorrow.

Dewayne mater · July 15, 2019

Chicken enchiladas with salsa verde are one of my all time favorites. Did you have a companion plant? I was told they need two plants to get tomatillos.

Worth1 · July 15, 2019

Fried green tomatillos you wont be sorry,

GoDawgs · July 22, 2019

Dewayne: Yeah, I had three plants growing right next to each other.

Worth: I guess I'll have to buy some to fry. All I got was that one batch and the plants have now been pulled up.

MuddyBuckets · August 24, 2019

Darn Tomatillos, 2017 2 plants, huge growth and production of fruit for 3 months, 2018 3 plants, same garden location, huge plants, lots of blooms and NOT ONE fruit, 2019 2 plants in 5 gallon bucket, 5' tall in tomato cage, some blooms, perhaps 10 fruit set and blooms falling off. What's going on with my tomatillo growing? SOS for advice

Worth1 · August 24, 2019

Lack of pollinators is my guess.
Grew them one year for an experiment and they are way too big to handle.
Did make some nice sweet tomatillo sauce though.
I like tomatillos but not they way they serve them in restaurants.
Too tangy and no heat.

JRinPA · August 31, 2019

Seems like tomatillos are hit or miss. The first year I screwed up with late start and only one plant, but last year I planted 5 in one spot and they went crazy productive...they just don't really appeal to us. They spread like crazy, too. I figure they would have grown and produced readily this year but the only time I spent on tomatillos was pulling out the volunteers for two months this spring! I put one bunch in a solo cup in case I wanted to replant some but eventually they went to compost.

oakley · August 31, 2019

My harvest is always unpredictable but have a couple dozen going in the smoker
tomorrow with hatch chilis, big chopped spanish onion, a couple poblanos, habaneros,
garlic. Smoked tomatillo green sauce in flat-packed zips for winter tacos.

July 13, 2019	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Tomatillo Success My first effort at growing these seemingly easy plants last year was a bust. They all suddenly wilted although grown in containers and with the same potting mix the tomatoes were thriving in. Go figure. As I mentioned then, I always give every new thing three tries before I give up. This year... success! The plants aren't as nice and full as those in photos folks have posted but they're making tomatillos! variety is Everona. And today I picked the first ones as their husks were starting to split. Now to make some salsa verde!

August 24, 2019	#7
MuddyBuckets Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Eastern/Coastal NC 8b Posts: 192	Darn Tomatillos, 2017 2 plants, huge growth and production of fruit for 3 months, 2018 3 plants, same garden location, huge plants, lots of blooms and NOT ONE fruit, 2019 2 plants in 5 gallon bucket, 5' tall in tomato cage, some blooms, perhaps 10 fruit set and blooms falling off. What's going on with my tomatillo growing? SOS for advice Last edited by MuddyBuckets; August 24, 2019 at 07:11 PM. Reason: correction

July 13, 2019	#2
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	I hope it was worth the wait! Did you do anything different?

July 14, 2019	#3
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Same growing mix, same containers, same watering and fertilizer regimen. The only difference was that they got more sun this year. Last year they were in shade until noon when the sun swung around enough to light 'em up for the rest of the day. This year they're on the other side of the garden with some tomatoes in all day full sun. And they're sitting on pallets this year, not sitting on the ground. I can't grow tomatoes in the ground in the garden due to wilt in the soil, thus the containers. Perhaps the wilt entered last year's plants through the drain holes? I have no idea if that's possible but onto pallets they went! I found a salsa verde recipe last night online. They all seem pretty much the same except that some roast the veggies and some don't. There are other kitchen projects lined up for today (zucchini bread, english muffin bread and putting up some pickled jalapeno slices) so the salsa will most likely happen tomorrow.

July 15, 2019	#4
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Chicken enchiladas with salsa verde are one of my all time favorites. Did you have a companion plant? I was told they need two plants to get tomatillos.

July 15, 2019	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Fried green tomatillos you wont be sorry,

July 22, 2019	#6
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Dewayne: Yeah, I had three plants growing right next to each other. Worth: I guess I'll have to buy some to fry. All I got was that one batch and the plants have now been pulled up.

August 31, 2019	#9
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	Seems like tomatillos are hit or miss. The first year I screwed up with late start and only one plant, but last year I planted 5 in one spot and they went crazy productive...they just don't really appeal to us. They spread like crazy, too. I figure they would have grown and produced readily this year but the only time I spent on tomatillos was pulling out the volunteers for two months this spring! I put one bunch in a solo cup in case I wanted to replant some but eventually they went to compost.

August 31, 2019	#10
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	My harvest is always unpredictable but have a couple dozen going in the smoker tomorrow with hatch chilis, big chopped spanish onion, a couple poblanos, habaneros, garlic. Smoked tomatillo green sauce in flat-packed zips for winter tacos.