Tomatillo var. Toma Verde

Description

Physalis ixocarpa

Tomatillos belong to the plant family Physalis, and are related to the Chinese lantern and cape gooseberry. Also known as ‘Mexican green tomatoes’, tomatillos are picked in the green, unripe stage and are an essential ingredient in Mexican cooking.

This variety of tomatillo is called Toma Verde. It produces round fruit, normally about 30mm in diameter (though they can vary), which is enclosed in a thin papery husk. The fruit are harvested when they are still green and unripe – just as they begin to break out of the husks.

The plants are large, sprawling shrubs that need to be spaced at least 60cm apart. They are frost sensitive, and should be treated in the same way as a determinate (bush) tomato. They can be grown inside a tunnel or greenhouse, but in southern Britain also do very well outdoors.  Flowers from the same plant cannot pollinate themselves, so at least two plants MUST be grown side-by-side for any fruit to develop.

Warning: No matter how conscientiously you harvest your tomatilloes some fruit will ripen and fall to the ground. These will leave seed in the soil, which are likely to produce volunteer plants in following years.

Approx. number of seeds per pack: 50