Tomatilla pollination problems. Help

I have successfully grown 6 tomatilla plants from seed outside in a full sun spot.
Tomatillas are grown on America/mexico for salsa. They come out in a papery husk and looked interesting so they have become this years 'interesting plant project'.

Tall and straggly with flowers I am proud of what I have acheived so far BUT no fruit. Hover flies and other pollinators visit but nothing sticks. The flowers die and drop off.

I have read that it could be a problem but even fiddling about with a feather doesn't seem to work.

Any ideas

I have grown tomatillos in my greenhouse for the last two years and it does seem to be a problem to get them pollinated. They have been flowering since June with bees working the flowers, but it has only been in the last week that I have seen a flower setting fruit.

I've been rather disappointed with my tomatillos too. They are fruiting now but on the 10 surviving plants there are only about 5/6 fruits each (though they've flowered profusely all Summer).
 I also found the stems to be very brittle and the plants quite straggly (I lost several plants through breakage moving them from  conservatory to garden).
I just hope the salsa I hope to make compensates for the space they've taken up!

I started the seeds in March and up until 2 weeks ago they were in the conservatory (NE facing) then I moved some outdoor as they were taking over (that's when I lost plants to breakage). Don't think I'll try them at the allotment as they wouldn't survive the winds there.

My problem now is knowing when to pick them...the packet says 'before they turn yellow'... not really all that helpful. I've checked one of the bigger husks and the fruit is about the size of  a cherry tomato with a sticky green skin. Inside it smells quite pea like, has pale seeds forming just under the skin and the centre is furry  like the inside of a broad bean pod. No idea if it's ready.  Is it ready?

I've grown these as an "interesting plant" experiement and they are now on my "never again" list...lots of fruit, but huge...probably 10ft tall, and trying to get out the top of my little greenhouse...

Taking up too much space, had to tie them up, but probably about 30 fruits, encased in the papery husks, apperently ripe when these go brown and dry...which mine haven't yet.

Think it'll be a pretty meagre salsa...but perhaps they'll compliment my sweet peppers...?!

Phill

 

Riba riba riba!!!

I lied. I kept three good ones and moved them to a spot of hotter sun with shelter. The rest I threw away.

I am immensely proud to say that I have now two tomatillo fruit with an abundance of flowers on the remaining plants.

The plants obviously need hot sun, room for roots to grow to support extensive plant growth and some patience before they provide pollen for pollinators.

I thank you