Tomatillo Plant

[blackkitty]

If the lanterns are starting to swell they are probably setting fruit. Give them a gentle squeeze to see if you can find anything growing inside. Mine are running mad and I've got so many fruits that I'm not sure how to use them all. Any ideas anyone?

[caz999]

Hi Blackkitty
I have 3 tomaillo plants, the green variety, covered in lanterns of various sizes, but am not sure how to tell when the fruit is ready to pick! I would be grateful for any advice. Thank you.

Caz
P.S. I think I will be needing tomatillo recipes also!!!!

[blackkitty]

We've started to use ours once the lanterns are split by the fruit. They're good fried or grilled as you would tomatoes. I'm going to try chutney later using a green tomato recipe. The only recipes I can find on the internet are for salsa.

[Lesley Jay]

What about Hugh's recipe at River Cottage?

[caz999]

Hi
Thanks for your help, can`t wait to try them

I don`t now if you saw this web site?

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/tomatillos.htm

There is advise and mostly salsa recipes but there are a few non salsa ones, like tomatillo jam.

[blackkitty]

LJ I've got the river cottage recipe, but it uses a lot of marrow or overgrown courgette and I'm probably the only Grape who is not yet suffereing from an excess of these and I completely refuse to buy any for any purpose whatsoever.

[JazzDuke]

I grew Purple da Milpa last year in small pots. The plants got much bigger than I'd imagined. Lots of tomatillos which I left for quite a long time on the plant (seem to remember harvesting Sept/Oct). This year I must have started later because I don't seem to have any fruit yet.

They are great for salsas.

Next year try growing some herb papalo to go in your salsa too!

[blackkitty]

Never heard of papalo, Jazz. What is it?

[big fiona]

i planted some in pots at home at the same time as my tomatoes this year. Strangely enough, I now have around 8 of themgrowing in my allotment - I'm mystified. The ones on the allotment have lanterns but the ones at home (anothe 8 of them) don't. if they all fruit, I'm in big trouble. Any helpful suggestions?

[JazzDuke]

Papalo is a Mexican herb (I got the seeds from VidaVerde or Real Seeds, can't remember). Strong plants with a flavour similar but more pungent than coriander (a bit similar to Vietnamese Coriander but thats another story).

Once you get bored with salsa try tomatillos in a chutney (like a green tomato chutney), I also found a tomatillo/chilli relish recipe (no, don't ask, I lost it but maybe Hilaire Walden - Sensational Preserves), fry them in a ratatouille type mix, grill them to go with a cooked breakfast.

[Earthbabe]

I've just been over my plants and found another feed's worth so guess what we have for tea tonight!

Yep! alongside the pile of toms picked at the weekend and probably some beans.

[ginger ninger]

Tomatillo plants

First time this year, a friend told me about them, she gave me some seeds, i planted them in feb in a heated green house, she said they could grow rather large, she wasn't wrong....... 4 foot and still going .

[Flummery]

Love the pic.What is a tomatillo?

Cross between a tomato and a willow?

[ginger ninger]

thanks for message, i've had a good giggle, your not wrong about cross with a willow!!!

[Snadger]

I have two plants....one planted outdoors and one planted in the greenhouse. Forgot about them not being self fertile. The annoying thing is I gave three plants away! (might go and dig up the plant I have outdoors and bring it inside!)