Tomatillo plants - Are they worth growing?

**murphy99** · 08-02-2010, 10:58 AM

Hello

I grew them last year and will grow more this year , although I will have fewer plants this year. You need at least two and they grow very tall but are easy to lookafter.

If you like mexican food then they are worth a try , especially as they are something you can't buy in the supermarket. They freeze well just take off the husk and wash , they freeze whole. They have a unique taste quite hard to describe , more apple like than tomato. I make a green enchilada sauce and salsa with them, not an every day plant but something different to add to your mexican food repertoire :-)

**afrench108** · 08-02-2010, 11:22 AM

Hi, i grew them for salsa's and chutneys a couple of years ago, for some strange reason the 3 i had in my gh seemed to attract meat flies.. i eneded up composting them early, the flies then dissapeard, 1st and last time i have ever had the insect in my gh in 8 years... would be interested if anyone else has had this problem... gh is always clean and in good health so a mystery. but hope this dosen't put you off

**murphy99** · 08-02-2010, 11:38 AM

I grew mine outside last year so can't comment on your greenhouse problem. They were fine outside as were my tomatoes, it was my first year growing anything apart from herbs and I was surprised how easy they were to lookafter.

**tiby** · 08-02-2010, 11:48 AM

I tried growing tomatillas last year outside in growbag like tomatoes. All my plants were covered in flies and no matter what I did I couldnt get rid of them. The plants did flower and produce some fruit but the flies were a nightmare so I am not growing them again!

**Alison** · 08-02-2010, 12:35 PM

They're a really easy and beautiful crop (nice flowers etc). Don't need to grow them inside and I've never had problems outside with insects. They get big and will do best direct into soil with canes to support as they get pretty heavy with fruit. Have some photos somewhere but can't find at the moment. Think I had about 6 plants (the green ones not the purple) and they produced a HUGE number of fruits, most of which are in the freezer and they make lovely sauces etc for Mexican. Will be growing a similar number this year as I have loads of seeds left.

**Rabidbun** · 08-02-2010, 01:43 PM

I grew three plants year before last - started them off in the greenhouse then moved them outside. I used pots that were too small though (wasn't expecting the eight foot tall plants

) and I think the resulting lack in water and hot weather restricted the growth of the fruits, as I didn't get a crop of harvestable size

. Very easy plants to grow that resisted even my attempts to kill 'em off!

I also had the flies problem.

**muckdiva** · 08-02-2010, 05:07 PM

Yeah, easy to grow, mine produced fruit very late in the season last year but year before's were good.

**poly** · 08-02-2010, 07:50 PM

I find them a really easy crop; they can be a bit bold and boisterous though. As previously said you need a minimum of two plants to ensure fruit.
I've not experienced any problems with flies.

Fresh salsa made with them is extremely yummy

**realfood** · 08-02-2010, 07:53 PM

Yes, they are worth growing and an interesting taste. I grew them in the greenhouse and they attract hover flies which were pollinating them. Hover flies also lay eggs which hatch out into voracious predator hover fly larvae which like nothing better than to eat greenfly!!
You do not need to freeze them. I still have some sitting on a sunny windowsill, and they are in superb condition, still firm and have not lost any moisture.

**21again** · 08-02-2010, 07:57 PM

Thanks folks, I thinkl I will try growing some this year.

I see you can grow purple or green ones, do they have a similar taste and if not is one better to grow than the other?

**Bramble_killer** · 08-02-2010, 09:17 PM

I grew some last year as someone had some spare. It was the purple one but you're supposed to eat them green for salsa.

Getting some green tomatillos this year (the ones from t&m). They are yummy and easy to grow.

**21again** · 08-02-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by Bramble_killer View Post

I grew some last year as someone had some spare. It was the purple one but you're supposed to eat them green for salsa.

Getting some green tomatillos this year (the ones from t&m). They are yummy and easy to grow.

That's great, off to order some now.

**poly** · 08-02-2010, 10:39 PM

I like both

.

If you haven't ordered already, I can send a few of each if you would like, (both self saved).

**Alison** · 08-02-2010, 10:49 PM

Knew I had a piccies somewhere, thought it was better than this but this is a piccie of one of my plants taken early September last year.

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Tomatillo plants - Are they worth growing?

Tomatillo plants - Are they worth growing?

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