Crops › Tomatillo
How to grow Tomatillo
in the US
Sow March to June, plant out July, harvest June to September. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Tomatillos are cracking, you know. They're a bit like a tomato, but with a lovely tartness and that papery husk. Dead easy to grow on the plot, and they'll give you loads for salsas and proper Mexican cooking.
Sowing
Tomatillos are from the same family as tomatoes and eggplants, the Solanaceae, and they like it warm. You don't find plug plants for these much, so you'll be starting them yourself. Sow seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Plant them a quarter-inch deep in good seed-starting mix. Keep them somewhere warm, 70-80°F (21-27°C) is ideal, until they sprout. For zones with a longer growing season, like zone 8 or 9, you can start earlier, even February or January, and keep sowing right through spring for a continuous harvest.
Growing on
Once your seedlings have a couple of true leaves, prick them out into individual pots. Give them a bit of space, they'll grow quickly. When all danger of frost is gone and the soil has warmed up proper, you can start hardening them off. Gradually get them used to the outdoors over a week or two. Plant them out about 2 to 3 feet apart. They can get quite tall and bushy, so a sturdy stake or a tomato cage will help keep them upright.
Looking after it
Tomatillos like consistent water, especially when the fruits are forming, so don't let them dry out. A good mulch around the base will help keep that moisture in and suppress weeds. They don't need much fuss, just make sure they're getting enough sun. You don't need to pinch them out like some tomatoes, just let them do their thing.
What goes wrong
To be honest, tomatillos are usually pretty trouble-free. Slugs can be a bother when the plants are young, so keep an eye out for them and use whatever method works for you. Aphids sometimes turn up, but a quick spray with soapy water usually sorts them out. Companion planting with marigolds or nasturtium can help deter a few pests too.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting from August through to October, about 75 days from sowing. The papery husk around the fruit will split open and the fruit inside will turn green, or purple depending on the variety. That's when they're ready. Just pick them with the husk on. They store well in a cool, dry place for a few weeks, or you can refrigerate them if you need them for longer.
I always plant at least two tomatillo plants. They fruit much better with a friend, proper cracking yields then.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Toma Verde This is a really reliable Tomatillo variety, a good maincrop choice. If you're after consistent green fruit for your salsas, this one's a winner. | No club votes yet |
| Verde Puebla Another solid maincrop Tomatillo, Verde Puebla gives you plenty of traditional green fruits. It's a great all-rounder for anyone wanting a dependable crop. | No club votes yet |
| Rio Grande Verde This Rio Grande Verde variety is a cracking performer, giving you lots of bright green tomatillos. It's ideal for those who want a strong, productive plant. | No club votes yet |
| Grande Rio Verde A reliable maincrop Tomatillo, Grande Rio Verde produces abundant green fruits. Perfect for a gardener who wants a heavy harvest for cooking. | No club votes yet |
| Purple Coban This Purple Coban variety offers something a bit different with its lovely purple fruits. It's a great choice for adding color to your culinary creations. | No club votes yet |
| De Milpa De Milpa is a traditional maincrop Tomatillo, known for its consistent performance. It's a good solid choice if you're looking for a dependable green tomatillo. | No club votes yet |
| Amarylla (Yellow) The Amarylla (Yellow) variety brings a beautiful golden color to your harvest, along with a slightly sweeter taste. This one is great for folks who fancy a different look and flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Tamayo Tamayo is a reliable maincrop Tomatillo variety, giving you good, steady yields. It's a straightforward plant that's easy to grow for any gardener. | No club votes yet |
| Pineapple Tomatillo This Pineapple Tomatillo variety is a bit special, with a lovely sweet and fruity flavor. It's perfect for those who want a unique taste for desserts or fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Plaza Latina Plaza Latina is a dependable maincrop Tomatillo, producing plenty of green fruits. It's a strong, reliable choice for a good harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Queen of Malinalco The Queen of Malinalco is a robust Tomatillo variety, known for its consistent production. It's an excellent option for gardeners seeking a steady supply of green fruit. | No club votes yet |
| Zarzamora Zarzamora is a reliable maincrop Tomatillo, offering a good yield of traditional green fruits. This variety is a solid choice for any backyard gardener. | No club votes yet |
| Rendidora Rendidora is a cracking maincrop Tomatillo, known for being a very productive variety. It's ideal if you're after a heavy crop for making lots of salsa. | No club votes yet |
| Criolla de Morelos Criolla de Morelos is a traditional maincrop Tomatillo, giving you reliable yields. It's a great all-round choice for consistent green fruit. | No club votes yet |
| Gigante The Gigante variety lives up to its name, producing impressively large tomatillos. This one's for you if you want bigger fruits and a substantial harvest. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Tomatillo seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | June to July | August to September |
| Zone 4 | May to June | July to September |
| Zone 5 | April to June | July to September |
| Zone 6 | March to June | June to September |
| Zone 7 | March to June | June to October |
| Zone 8 | February to July | May to October |
| Zone 9 | January to August | April to November |
| Zone 10 | January to September | March to November |
Cook the harvest
A slow-simmered, deeply satisfying Mexican-American stew of pork shoulder braised in a roasted tomatillo and green chile sauce until the meat is fall-apart tender and the sauce is rich, complex, and punchy with heat and acid. This is the definitive chile verde — the kind served at weekend family gatherings and diner counters across New Mexico and the Southwest. Make it a day ahead for the best flavor and serve with warm flour tortillas and sour cream.
140 min · mediumClassic Mexican enchiladas verdes with a homemade roasted tomatillo sauce that has an irresistible tangy depth. Corn tortillas are dipped in the vivid green sauce, filled with shredded chicken and cheese, then rolled and baked until bubbling. This is the kind of recipe that makes people request the leftovers.
70 min · mediumTomatillos, jalapeños, and white onion roasted under the broiler until charred and blistered, then blended into a deeply smoky, complex salsa with a rich sweetness that raw tomatillo salsa simply cannot match. The charring transforms the sharp tartness of raw tomatillos into something caramelized and rounded, making this the better choice when you want a salsa for enchiladas, burritos, or spooning over eggs. It keeps for a week and gets better as it sits.
25 min · easyA lush, restaurant-quality green enchilada sauce built on roasted tomatillos, Hatch green chiles, onion, and chicken broth — pourable, deeply flavored, and miles better than anything that comes from a can. This sauce works equally well for smothered enchiladas, as a braising liquid for chicken, or poured over a breakfast burrito. Make a big batch and freeze it in portions for effortless weeknight dinners throughout the fall.
35 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: marigolds, nasturtium
Questions people ask
When do you sow Tomatillo in the US?
Sow Tomatillo from March to June in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out July, after the last frost.
How long does Tomatillo take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest June to September.
Which Tomatillo varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Toma Verde, Verde Puebla, Rio Grande Verde, Grande Rio Verde and more.
Track your Tomatillo from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.