Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,
I am growing tomatillos for the first time, I have 3 thriving plants that are about 4 feet tall covered in green lanterns, husks? not sure what to call them!!! My problem is how do I know when the tomatillo is ready to pick as you can`t actually see it!! does the lantern have to be a certain size or does the fruit have to fill the lantern?? I would be grateful for any help you can give me. Also am not quite sure what to do with tomatillos when I do pick them so any help on that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Caz

Hi!

I'm growing them for the first time this year too! I got a low growing small one tasting of pineapples, and a tall one which is supposed to be good for salsas. I read that you should pick them once the husk is papery and peels back, although in fact I have so far eaten the small pineapple ones while the husk is still intact, although it has gone papery. So few of them that I eat them fresh as I go!!

The salsa variety seems slower to ripen: I think that they should be sourish to taste. I guess for yours, the way to eat will depend on the variety. If they are sweet, I would eat them as a tasty treat, or in a fruit salad or something.

Do you know if they are sweet or sour? It will perhaps be a nice discovery.

Nicky

__________________
Saoirse: Irish meaning Freedom (I think!)

Hi Nicky
I think mine are the salsa ones, I peeled back the husk slightly on one of the larger ones and the fruit is a lovely pale green colour and about 2 inches across. I think I might pick that one later and try it!! I`ll let you know what it`s like......if I survive the tasting!!!!!!

Caz

please can someone please tell me what are tomatillos

okay just found them on a web site very interesting now I wonder what they taste like. In the raw of course.