Tomatillos

15 years ago

I noticed that not much has been written on the issue of growing tomatillos in containers, and after growing some from seed this March, I now know why. I grew four tomatillo plants, but only three survived past transplanting. The one that did not survive broke at the main stem due to insufficient lateral support. I thought that this was an isolated incident perhaps due to improper light levels leading to a leggy plant. Then this month my more robust and almost tree trunk looking plant had its fruit bearing stems break off due to the weight of so many tomatillos.

The bottom line, cage tomatillo plants in containers and guide the stems with twine. The plant will try to expand laterally. Do not let this happen. Instead guide them so that they grow vertically. I have been doing this for about three weeks now with good results, my tasty salsas can prove it. Oh, and before I forget, I grew these bad boys in five gallon containers. I water kinda often, so maybe next season I will use 15 gallon containers. I would like to know if anyone else has given this a try.

Featured Answer

Susan Gutierrez

9 years ago

I have about 12 tomatillos plants actively growing. I am in Florida. I grow in 5 gallon buckets for some and some of them direct sow in my garden. If you grow in containers I will say only grow 1 per pot. Cross pollination is not an issue for tomatillos like it is for other plants in my experience as they have multiple flowers per plant. You can grow just one. I grow purple and green. You do have to keep them separate if you grow more than 1 variety or they will hybridize from the bees and such. The root balls on them are huge. Mine are more successful in the ground than in a container. They also need good fertilization. With our climate I can grow almost year round. If you are in zone 8 or 9 I recommend in summer months to grow in shade as the don't like extreme long hours of heat. Also they are indeterminate and vine. When I put them in the garden bed a cucumber trellis is better than a stake or cage. The limbs break easily if you let them harden off and try to tie them. With the cucumber cage not as big of an issue. Some I let sprawl. The ones in the garden bed. I also grow pineapple tomatillos and these I recommend you grow on a trellis as they vine. They are a sweet treat and have the flavor of pineapple. Makes an interesting addition to Pico de Gallo or can be eaten off the Bush. I hope this helps. I do better with tomatillos than tomatoes for some reason! LOL

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Comments (11)

organic_wonderful
15 years ago
I'll let you know as I've got quite a few tomatillo seedlings on the go. I can't to try them as it's my frst time growng them (or much of anything else for that matter).
Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
15 years ago
I grew three tomatillos in a 20 gallon smart pot (fabric aeration container). I used one 8 foot by 1 inch stake for each one. They grew faster than my tomatoes in the same size containers. Like you said, they had numerous lateral branches. But I didn't prune most of them. I tried to tie the biggest ones to the stakes. Some broke off, but most were fine. I was stunned at the huge yield. I definitely would plant no more than one plant per 15 to 20 gallon container if I did it again.
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organic_wonderful
15 years ago
15 gallons seems very excessive.
Eetrey
Original Author
15 years ago
Well,what size would you recommend organic_wonderful?
patnmoe
14 years ago
My seedlings grew to be very leggy and it is windy. Caging and staking seems to be in order. This is my first time to grow yellow and purple tomatillos. Any hints please?
Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
14 years ago
Just what the original poster said. Use a big container, stake or cage, and support lateral limbs so the fruits don't cause them to break off. They need conditions similar to tomatoes. With three in a 20-gallon pot, I was watering heavily every two or three days. I don't remember any pests or diseases causing problems. My main problem was that they were as prolific as zucchinis. I could have made enough salsa to feed an army. The ones I grew were toma verdes and my soil mix was three parts MetroMix to one part compost.
uaskigyrl
13 years ago
Hi! I just came across this thread. My friend just gave me a 20 gallon pot and I wanted to grow tomatillos, I know that you need more than one tomatillo in order to get fruit so they can cross terminate. I was hoping I could put 3 or 4 plants in that large container? I'm guessing this will be ok?
uaskigyrl
9 years ago
Hi Susan! I did not know they are indeterminate. Do they vine on their own or do you tie them to a trellis?
miscel
9 years ago
Susan - 1 tomatillo plant is okay? I read that you need 2 plants for pollination. Is that not true?
nancyjane_gardener
9 years ago
Susan, I'm with you. My first year trying I grew one and got nothing. The next year I grew 2 and was overwhelmed! Nancy