Tomatillos are a cousin of the tomato but taste nothing like a tomato. They have a tangy, tart, citrus flavor and are the base for taste sauces like salsa verde. This purple variety starts out green and turns purple as it ripens. The purple variety is sweeter and less tangy than the green variety but it has a stunning color and plum and pear undertones.
Planting/Harvesting Notes
- Plant in well draining, fertile soil in full sun
- Space plants 2-3 ft apart
- Use a tomato cage or stake to keep plants off the ground
- Time from planting to harvest is 75-100 days.
- At least two tomatillo plants are required for successful pollination of crops
- Type is semi-determinate so produces most of its crop all at once, but some stragglers will ripen early or later.
Seed Saving
To save seeds, squeeze the seeds and pulp from the tomatillo and scoop out the seeds into a small container. Be sure to label the container with your variety. Once all seeds are in the container, fill the container with water so that the seeds are floating (approximately 1/4-1/2 cup water) and cover the container. Allow the container to sit in a cool, dark place for 3-5 days. It is ok if a moldy film develops on top. After 3-5 days, carefully remove the film and stir. Allow seeds to settle for 1-2 minutes. Any seeds that sink are viable. Carefully pour off any floating seeds and pulp and then strain the sunken seeds. Rinse the remaining gel off the seeds while they are in the strainer. Then spread the seed in a single layer on a drying screen, paper plate, etc. If saving multiple varieties, be sure to label all seeds. After all seeds are dry, store in a labeled paper envelope in a cool dry place.
Image Credit: “purple tomatillos” by fekaylius is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.