Tomatillo

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Tomatillo

Growing in a similar manner to tomatoes, tomatillo fruit are enclosed in an ornamental, papery capsule.

When to plant/sow in zone:
Requirements: Full sun; well-drained position; requires staking; grow 2-3 plants to ensure good cross pollination.
Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost and/or well-rotted manure or organic pellets.
How to start: SEED: Sow in punnets into seed-raising mix, 4mm deep. Keep moist. Germinates in 7-14 days. SEEDLINGS: Plant in the ground when seedlings are 5-10cm+ tall. Space them 50cm apart. Water in and mulch with hay.
How to grow: Keep moist and mulched with straw. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly. Plants require staking or other support.
When to harvest: Harvest from 12 weeks, when the papery husk around the fruit has dried and is starting to split. Cut fruit off with snips to avoid damaging the plant.
Troubleshooting: Aphids; Queensland fruit fly; cutworms; white fly; possums; birds; rats; wilt; blossom-end rot; bacterial leaf spot; powdery mildew

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