Is this typical for tomatillos?

13 years ago

First time growing tomatillos question: the skin or bag around the tomatillo is kind of yellowish, leathery but on some, it's green. The fruit inside the "green skin" is much smaller than the "bag" around it. Does that mean they're not ripe yet? Do I wait until the fruit fills the bag and it splits open? On some of the fruit, the skin was splitting and the fruit filled the skin. When I peeled the skin away, the fruit was kind of sticky, but clean and green. Does this sound usual for this plant? Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

denninmi
13 years ago
Yup, the husk turns to yellow and eventually brown as it goes through various stages of ripeness.

The fruits often do split like tomatoes. And they are sticky, it's normal.

You can use them at any stage, from small and green through fully ripe and yellowish. In the fall before the killing frost, I pick them clean and use them all no matter how tiny. I don't notice much of a difference in flavor really between green and ripe.
michelelc
13 years ago
Yes, as denninmi said, that is normal. I usually wait till they fill the husk and the husk dries out a little before picking. Just peel the husk and rinse them and you can use them as you please. Last year, I peeled and rinsed all my extras (and wow did I have extras!) after running out of things to do with them, and froze them in a zip loc. No need to blanch.
Related Discussions
Tomatillos ( Tomato Tree)
Q
Comments (27)
whgille wrote: "They are supposed to fruit in 2 years. The fruit does not taste or look like tomatoes or tomatillos. It can be used as a veggie, fresh like a fruit, dessert or make into a hot sauce with chili peppers substitute tomatoes. Once you have a home grown tamarillo you will find out that when perfectly ripe it is delicious! the supermarket variety is picked under ripe." I've only ever had supermarket ones, of course, and I'm sure the difference between fresh, off the plant and under-ripened, shipped, stored, and chilled probably is night and day. Even at that, the ones from the supermarket aren't bad. They definitely benefit from sitting in a warm place for 2 or 3 days with a couple of ripe pieces of other fruit. I would be really hard pressed to describe their flavor. Sort of unique, I guess hints of tomato, papaya, etc., but mostly just their own.
...See More
Fruitless Tomatillo
Q
Comments (8)
There was another thread some while back talking about the same problem. Some said you need more than one plant and some opinioned that tomatillo, having PERFECT flower you do not need to have a company for them. I joined the second school of though and bought just ONE and planted it. Now my single tomatillo has aboundant of those small balloon like husks and many times more flowers. Inside those balloons the actual fruits are growing but VERY SLOWLY. Up until a week or so ago there were over hundered flowers, falling off and the husks getting yellow. NO FRUITS. As this is my first time growing tomatillo, did not know what to expect, Now I know that when it comes to fruiting, they are slow movers an growers. It seems that when tomatoes start ripening, tomatilloes start forming fruits. INTERESTING. CYRUS
...See More
tomatillos not fruiting
Q
Comments (2)
In my experience it is typical for tomatillos to put off fruiting until late in the season, then they suddenly get loaded with fruit. Empty husks will form first. Then fruit will grow inside the husks. I would not give up on them. Jim
...See More
Tomatillo Pests
Q
Comments (3)
My first year growing tomatillos, too. They certainly grow vigorously like weeds. Here's my query: I have found several fruits whose husks are skeletonized to a fine veil. The fruits don't seem harmed. Inside the husks are small (about 1/4 to 3/8 inch) brown, soft bodied insects unknown to me. Anyone know origin of this, and consequences?
...See More
alabamanicole
13 years ago
Do rinse and scrub them very well. The waxy/sticky coating is saponin, and it tastes nasty. (It's also mildly toxic.)

Is this typical for tomatillos?

Comments (3)

denninmi

michelelc

Related Discussions

alabamanicole

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US