When are Tomatillos ripe? (& When to pick them) 

Have you ever heard about tomatillos? Trust me, before growing them, I used to think they were just tomatoes. But no, they are totally different. Do you want to know what they actually are and how they look? Just stay connected, and you’ll learn the difference.

Here, I have explained everything about tomatillos, starting from what they are, when they ripen, ways to harvest and store them, and much more. So, plant lovers, just scroll down and discover something new.

Quick takeaways:

• Tomatillos are green in color and hold various uses.
• You should know about the harvesting period of Tomatillos so that you understand when your Tomatillos will be ripened.
• They can do so in a quick process so do not let them get ripped which will become yellow. You won’t get it to taste good. So, it is better to eat them when they get ripened.
• They belong to the nightshade family.
• Being a native of Mexico and Central America, gardeners grow them on their lawns to add can be used in the cuisines in the form of salsa, sauces, and others.
• They are also known as Physalis ixocarpa.
• Tomatillos are related to tomatoes but are different and you can grow many companion plants with them like basil, Cilantro, Mint, etc.

What are tomatillos?

Tomatillos are small shell plants that grow in them and protect their fruit. People got confused between tomatoes and Tomatillos. They both are not the same.  At the time of ripening of the fruit, the shell opens and gives you the delicious fruit.

You can enjoy its benefits. It tastes somehow sour and tangy. Numerous types of Tomatillos can be grown by the gardeners in the yard. There are even various benefits of this plant. 

Benefits: 

• It helps in treating the flu.
• It helps in treating diabetes
• It helps in curing the heart diseases of an individual.
• It helps in reducing blood pressure.
• It treats strokes. 

When are tomatillos ripe? 

If you know when your plant is getting fully matured to give you fruitful results then you are heading great but if not, then you need to know about it. You know the maturity of the fruit varies with the climatic conditions too.

Your plant will be prepared for harvesting after a period of 65 to 85 days. The maturity period of the plant will vary with the variety you are growing in your garden. 

You have to give plenty of time, about 2-3 months so that your plant gets fully matured and then you can check for ripe fruit. You can enjoy the benefits of your fruit after its maturity period. A plant might give you 60 to 200 Tomatillos, OMG sounds great! 

If you see your plants all long in their growing stage, then you will observe that the fruit that gets filled is coming out of the husk which shows the plant is getting mature and is ready to ripe. 

The following signs will show you that Tomatillos are ripe: 

• You will see that they are falling from the plant.
• The shell of the fruit tends to crack and there will be a light look on the fruit you will see. 
• Husks will get dry and change their color from green to brown. 

When they drop off from the plant, it shows that the plant is fully mature now.  It will attain its actual size and won’t stop until it achieves it after the process of harvesting. 

“The tree is nothing without the fruit, and the fruit has no value without the tree.”

How to harvest tomatillos? 

Folks, do you know how to harvest tomatillos? If yes, then I think you are doing great in your gardening field. But if not, then you should know about it. Below are some things to consider: 

• You have to harvest the tomatillos by providing them a twist or simply snip them from the plant. 
• You have to make use of garden scissors or a pruner for snipping it. 
• Then, you have to peel back the small part of the husk. 
• The fruit of the plant should remain free from blemishes. 
• If you observe that the fruit is sticky, then you have to remove its husk by watering the fruit with the soapy water solution. 

How to store tomatillos? 

Storing tomatillos is not a tricky task. All you need is good guidance and for that, I am here with this guide. So, follow the below points for storing tomatillos for further use. They are as follows: 

• When the tomatillos are green and fresh, then they seem best. It is because it produces a mild flavor and rich flavor. 
• You can easily store tomatillos in their husks by keeping them in a paper bag for about 2 weeks. Keep the bag in the refrigerator at a temperature of 55° to 60°F.
• Keep in mind you are not storing them with apples or bananas as they produce a gas named ethylene which will darken the tomatillos. 
• You can freeze them for further use. To do so, you have to wash the fruit by removing its husk.
• Then you can keep it in the refrigerator and store it. 

When to pick the Tomatillos?

Growing them like Senecio wax ivy plants can be an easy task but it gets tricky when someone needs to find out the picking period of those plants. It is necessary to know the time when you should pick the Tomatillos for your use.

One can pick them when they see that the color of the fruit is green. You have to check when they come out from their husk, till then you do not have to touch the fruit. 

Feeling excited to taste the delicious flavor of self-grown plants? Then wait for some time. Let the fruit reveal itself to the new world. In short, Tomatillos are ready to be picked when they are of green color and they do not take the large shape as tomatoes do. 

People get confused as to when to pick the fruit so that they get the desired outcomes from it. Make sure to check the shell of the fruit and the husk will be browned colored and will be open. You will see the fruit inside that shell. You should know the color of the fruits is orange too sometimes and green when ripe.

How often to harvest tomatillos? 

Do you know how often to harvest tomatillos in your home garden? If yes, then it’s great but if not, then you should know about it. It is suggested to harvest tomatillos when they are ready. 

If you reside in an area where the climatic conditions are cold, then you will observe the bulk of tomatillos from the time of summer till fall. 

They will begin to ripe more early as compared to others. So, you have to keep checking your plants daily so that you can pick them off when they are ripe. 

Can You Eat Tomatillos Before They Are Ripe?

Do you know if you can eat raw tomatillos or not?  if yes then it’s great but if not then you should know that you cannot eat them before they arrive so the answer is no. 

It is because when they are not right they contain solanine which is a chemical toxin ingredient in all the nightshade varieties of plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, etc. 

So this tends to break down when the fruit ripens. So it’s better to wait rather than choose wrong.  eating unripe tomatillos is not right because they will have a tart flavor. So, wait for your tomatillos to ripe to eat them. 

Binding up the context 

In this guide, you come to know Tomatillos are green in color and hold various uses within. They belong to the nightshade family. Being a native of Mexico and Central America, gardeners grow Tomatillos on their lawns to can be used in the cuisines in the form of salsa, sauces, and others. They are also known as Physalis ixocarpa. Read the whole guide to know the exact time for picking the fruit. 

Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!

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