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Tomatillo (maybe?) Plant with very large leaves

10 years ago

This turned up in a pile of dirt where I may have dumped a container plant at the end of last season. I had a variety of tomato plants as well as one tomatillo in these containers.


The leaves seem freakishly large, I haven't found any pics online of tomatillo or related plants (gooseberry, ground cherry) with leaves this large. The leaves are relatively sparse but enormous. Some of them are roughly 10" long. There's leaf damage (beetles?) That isn't present in the raised bed tomatoes across the yard.


This volunteered in a mostly shady spot that only gets afternoon sun. Perhaps this is a regular tomatillo plant that is growing funny because of the low light?

Any thoughts / ideas? Is this actually unusual or am I looking for magic where this none?


Thanks!




Forgive the smoke, I wanted to show scale and didn't have a ruler handy.

Comments (11)

  • 10 years ago

    I have not paid attention to tomatillo laves in the past. A nitrogen rich soil might contribute to big leaves.

    But certainly what you have is tomatillo , judging from the fruits.

    Here is a tomatillo with big leaves (Google)

  • 10 years ago

    Sure looks like a tomatillo plant. I've noticed different varieties have different looking leaves. Last year's purple had tiny leaves and went vinelike, up the fence. This year's has stayed a little shorter and bushes out with large leaves. Same location, last year's was a purple type and this year I'm growing a pineapple variety. So it's possible.

  • 10 years ago

    Rob it looks like you could have spider mites on those leaves because of the tiny white dots. To me it looks like some sort of sucking insect is enjoying them. You may want to peek under the leaves to see if you see anything. A easy trick for spider mites since they are so small is to take a sheet of white paper, hold it under the leaves and tap the plants, then look at the paper to see if there are any tiny specks moving around, if there are, you have mites.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Rob, what do you do with your bounty? Mine aren't yet ripe, but a neighbor has gifted me a ton of ripies! I scalded them, took the skin off, and gave them a little time in the steamer. WOW! Then I crushed them in random sizes, stirred them in the strainer a couple times to get the water out, added some salt and oregano. Better than you can buy anywhere Pizza sauce. Deep Dish Chicago style is loaded and ready for baking. OMG! Home grown is so


    much better than canned!

  • 10 years ago

    I have a tomatillo plant that has really settled into our tomato patch. It is about 2 feet tall now and has many blooms on it. I have never grown one of these plants before and was wondering how big the fruit typically gets. Doesn't the fruit grow like some kind of husk on the top of the fruit, and how can you tell when it is ripe?
    It's an odd looking plant, in that it has smooth shiney stalk/limbs like a pepper plant. Like some kind of pepper/'mater cross. What are the sizes have y'all seen out of this type of plant?


  • 10 years ago

    Tomatillos come in several sizes and colors but mostly like a cherry , large cherry size.The plants can get very very bushy and all as well. Be prepared to support is as you would with indet tomatoes.

    The fruits grow inside the husk. When the fruit fills the husk, it brakes/cracks open. That is normally when it is ripe. Some get slightly yellow-green. Never expect a sweet tomatillo. To my experience they are all tart. They are good in salsa. Then you won't need to add lemon juice .

    Sey

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Here's a pic of my tomatillo plant, lots of blooms, and growing like a weed (amongst more weeds)

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Sey,

    Good, I like salsa. All those different home grown colored tomato varieties plus tomatillo, jalapenos and onions will make some awesome salsa. We canned 10 pints of salsa last year, and are out of it now.

    We also have 3 pepperoncini plants growing. Those are good with pizza or a sandwich.

  • 10 years ago

    Yeah, sure . You can also put your salsa in blender and make fresh spicy sauce. With fresh tomatillo, no need to add lime juice.

    Sey

  • 10 years ago

    I think my variety is a simple "Tomatillo Verde", or green type. I read something on this site about them that they're self sterile, and you need to plant at least two of them? That could be a problem for me, I only have one plant, with lots of blooms, but I don't think it has any fruit yet.


    http://growingtaste.com/vegetables/tomatillo.shtml





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