How to Grow and Care for Tomatillos

Ever wonder what those green, tomato-like fruits are in salsa verde? What gives salsa verde such a distinctive flavor is not green tomatoes, but a close relative of the tomato, tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa). Although tomatillos are related to tomatoes, their appearance and flavor are markedly different.

Tomatillos have strongly serrated obovate leaves, with five-petaled yellow flowers with dark spots at the base. The round fruits are covered with a papery shell and look like hanging lanterns as they grow.

As tomatillos ripen, they completely fill the husk and it splits open to reveal the small fleshy fruits inside. The conventional green tomatillo turns apple green or yellow when fully ripe. Purple tomatillos start out green, then turn a dark eggplant color. Purple varieties tend to be slightly less acidic than green varieties, although both are acidic.

Tomatillos are similar in appearance to gooseberries and ground cherries, but again, their flavors aren't really comparable. Tomatillos are much more acidic than these fruits, making them great choices for dishes like salsa verde.

We hope you enjoy this video about Growing Tomatillos:

Source: suburban homestead

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