Key Facts
- Key ingredient in Mexican recipes
- Tastes like a citrusy green apple.
- Easy to grow
- Takes about 2 to 3 months to grow
Background
Tomatillo also know as the Mexican Husk Tomato. It has been used in cooking as far back as the Maya and Aztec periods.
Ideal growing location:
- Either outside in the summer – Balcony, patio or vegetable garden in sunshine.
- Or Indoors at anytime of the year – Corner of any room using hydroponics and growing lamp.
- Tastes a bit like a green apple with a citrusy flavour.
- Ideal for Mexican recipes or for cocktail drinks.
- Days from seed to harvest – about 65 to 75 (2 to 3 months)
- About 60 to 90 cm high
Example Tomatillo Recipes
The tomato is a key ingredient in Mexican recipes. And is ideal for Salsa Verde, as part of a ‘green alcoholic’ cocktail drink. Or when used in a Mexican soup, or as a side dish to roast meals
Used in many Mexican and Central-American recipes the tomatillo has been used as an ingredient as far back as the Maya and Aztec periods.
It tastes a bit like a green apple with a citrusy flavour. And the colour will affect all the foods it’s cooked in. It’s a lot smaller than a regular tomato (about the size of a golf ball or smaller)
Example recipes:
- Mexican Salsa Verde (see video)
- Roasted Tomatillo Chicken and Rice Bowls
- Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
2 Ways to grow tomatillo at home
The tomatillo is great for growing at home and will deliver heavy crops on large determinate vines of rounded berries 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Which are enclosed in the thin husk of its extended calyx.
The fruit ripens to a yellow colour, and has a delicious, sweet-tart flavour. Unique garden variety that’s very popular in Mexican cuisine. Matures 65-75 days from germination.
- Grow on under cooler conditions and when about 8 inches tall, either plant in their growing position in the greenhouse.
- Or you can gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions and plant out 18 inches apart in a warm and sunny spot in moist, fertile well drained soil and keep watered.
- Don’t forget light & temperature
You can grow tomatillo tomatoes all year round indoors if you add specialised lights.
New to growing tomatoes? The main tomato introduction will show you ‘step by step’ what to do, how to grow and use it.
More information
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