How to Grow Husk Tomatoes

Tomatillos are sometimes referred to as husk tomatoes.

Husk tomatoes, or tomatillos, belong to the nightshade family. They have a thin, papery husk that covers the entire fruit while growing. Tomatillos are ripe when the skin is still bright green in color. These husk tomatoes are commonly used in Mexican dishes including salsa, sauces and stews. They grow in the same conditions regular tomatoes grow, with plenty of sunshine and a hot climate.

Things You'll Need

• Seed-starting tray
• Seed-starting soil
• Tomatillo seeds
• Shovel
• Large bucket
• Compost with peat moss
• Hay
• Tomato cages
• Tomato liquid fertilizer

Instructions

1. Grow tomatillo seeds in a seed-starting tray filled with seed-starting soil six to eight weeks before your location's last frost date. Refer to the tomatillo seed information on how deep to plant the seeds, commonly 1/4 inch deep. Cover the tomatillo seeds with seed-starting soil and water lightly to dampen the soil.

2. Place the clear cover that came with the seed-starting tray over the seeds and move the tray to an indoor location that receives lots of sun. Once per day, lightly mist the soil to keep it damp until the tomatillo seeds begin to sprout.

3. Remove the clear cover from the seed-starting tray when all the tomatillo seedlings emerge from the soil. Harden the seedlings off one week prior to your location's last estimated frost date or when temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. To harden off the tomatillo seedlings, you must set the tray outdoors for a longer period every day to acclimate them to the outdoor climate.

4. Plant the seedlings outside in a location that receives full sun. Space the tomatillo planting holes 24 inches apart from each other, with rows that are at least 3 feet apart. Place the dirt you removed from the planting holes into a large bucket and incorporate a shovel-full of compost with peat moss.

5. Mix the compost and the dirt together with the shovel. Place the tomatillo seedlings into their planting holes and use the mixed dirt to fill each hole. Tamp the dirt down around each plant with your hands to remove any air bubbles.

6. Spread a 2-inch layer of hay around each tomatillo plant to retain excess moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing.

7. Water the tomatillo plants one to three times per week at a ratio of 1 inch or around 1/2 gallon of water per plant. More frequent watering may be required during very hot weather.

8. Place one tomato cage over each tomatillo seedling to add support for the plant during its growth.

9. Feed the tomatillo plants one to two times per month with a tomato liquid fertilizer according to label instructions.

References

• Gardening Know How: Growing Tomatillos
• Gourmet Sleuth: Tomatillos (Husk Tomatoes)