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hi all have noticed my tomatillos have germinated and are about 6" tall unfortunately I have thrown away the packet and dont know anything about them ie where to plant them (inside or out) in the raised beds  or in tubs and do they need any "special"  requirements and what do I do with them when they have grown (I dont remember buying them must have been a freebie)also will I really need 15 plants :o   any help much appreciated

Stick them in the ground they grow like weeds and need little care. They are seriously high yielding, you only need a couple of plants.

i look after mine just like tomatoes - going to put them outside to fend for themself this year to see how they get on

Quote from: tartonterro on May 15, 2008, 21:39:07
i look after mine just like tomatoes - going to put them outside to fend for themself this year to see how they get on

They are so much less delicate than toms. They come up constantly where I used to grow mine, self seeded for eternity it seems.

ooh that's interesting, i hadn't thought they could go outside. brilliant.

Quote from: amphibian on May 15, 2008, 21:13:56
Stick them in the ground they grow like weeds and need little care. They are seriously high yielding, you only need a couple of plants.

Mine are in the greenhouse - is that a good idea ?  They are small about 3 inches.

None this year but in a greenhouse they are thugs-grow like Topsey?

Prune with an axe and make a shed load of salsa ;D

Agree with amphibian about only growing a couple of plants - they do grow well outside here in the south east, and especially if you don't know if you like them or not. They are kept under cover here until first week June, when they get planted out like tomatoes - mind with all that warmth mine are quite big so they are in a shade frame at the moment, and wont get covered again unless frost threatens.

thanks r the info. do you have to pinch out sideshoots like toms

I don't bother sideshooting tomatillos and get loads, to be honest I dont support them either but I know some do, especially if the plant gets very tall.

I assume you grow them as a half-hardy annual, like tomatoes.

I don't remove sideshoots I just bung them in the ground and let them get on with it,  these plants are tough buggers.

I'm growing 2 of them for the first time. The packet says to treat them like tomatoes and to stake them "if needed". Mine have been in mini-greenhouse and are 2 foot tall - needed to stake them. They seem to grow quickly and are just putting out tiny fruits. I did n't need to harden them off (i keep them outside the greenhouse at times) as they seemed unaffected by temperatures.

I hope they taste good....

You can overwinter them too. I have four tomatillo plants that have been grown outside in buckets for 3-4 years now and because they're established they get a head start in spring.

I have overwintered physallis too, outdoors in all temperatures. I am currently breeding a more cold resistant variety.