It is very important that you remember that this is a warm-weather plant and to no plant it in the unstable and chilly conditions of the Spring. Wait until the temperatures have stabilized.
Tomatillos are a great source of vitamins C and A as well as potassium. They add a wonderful flavor to most any dish.
It is best to start indoors and transplant into the garden rather than direct seeding. The potting medium should not be allowed to dry on top. Seedlings should be hardened off before transplanting by setting the plants outside in the shade for a week before planting.
Seedlings should be planted so that only the top few leaves are above the soil like and the leaves that would be buried should be cut off. The buried stem will produce roots giving the plant more support. You can plant tomatoes in the same manner, Tomatillo seedlings should be planted at a spacing of about 2 feet within the row and about 3’ between the rows.
At least two tomatillos must be planted to assure adequate pollination. Mulch to preserve moisture. The tomatillos can be harvested when they have filled out their husks or when the husks have split open. Remove the husks and wash them. They can remain on your counter for about a week.
The wild tomatillo and related plants are found everywhere in the Americas except in the far north. In 2017, scientists reported on their discovery and analysis of a fossil tomatillo found in the Patagonian region of Argentina, dated to 52 million years BP (before the present). That is now pushed back.
