Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)
An essential in many Mexican dishes, tomatillos are tasty in salsas and roasted on the grill. Plants grow to about 3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide and are very productive! Papery exterior covers the wonderfully flavored fruits. Grow at least three plants in close proximity for best pollination. Tomatillos like to grow in similar conditions to tomatoes.
Origin: We were given the parent seed of these tomatillos by a friend from Mexico whose family has grown and saved them for generations in their gardens in the state of Chiapas.
(Approximately 35 seeds per packet)
Planting Instructions: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and maintain soil temperature of at least 75F for successful germination. Plant outdoors in full sun after last frost.
Recipe Ideas:
Salsa Verde! When we think of tomatillos we immediately think of green salsa and Mama has a great recipe which is also simple to make.
In a hot pan, stir-fry chopped tomatillos, onions and jalapeños until they're a golden brown. Then, remove them from the heat and drop them into a food processor. Add fresh cilantro, a generous squeeze of lemon or lime juice and a little water and blend. After tasting the mix, we usually add more jalapeño before enjoying the salsa verde with chips or on our favorite Mexican dishes.
Note: if you have an adventurous palate, add some ground cumin seeds to the stir-fried vegetables as you cook them. We love it!
