[Chiswickian]

Inspired by the range of exotic seeds at the Eden Project last year I bought some tomatillo seed. I planted only one of the plants (it's more out of interest than that I want a huge tomatillo harvest) and it is flowering it's little heart out. Trouble is, despite all the flowers I see no fruit growing yet.
I did a search and only found one reference from aeons ago but can't believe that the good burghers of allotment.org haven't experimented

any ideas anyone? I DO hope that it's not because the plant needs a mate as I discarded loads of seedlings that came up....

[Deucecoup]

Are they like Tamarillos?

[Lardman]

I've got some on the go too, so no you're not alone   ...  

On the patio are :-

Physalis Tomatillo - Violet
Physalis - Tomatillo Mexican Green Husk
Physalis Tomatillo - Pineapple
And Physalis Edulis - Cape Gooseberry

All growing and flowering for England. Its still a little early for the flowers to set though, I did get fruit last year but it was VERY late in the season and they didn't ripen.

A quick Google suggests though that they are self sterile so you need 2 plants to get fruit   you don't just have the 1 plant left do you ?

[realfood]

I have three tomatillo plants in the greenhouse and I am hand pollinating and hoping for fruit.
The cape gooseberries have set lots of fruit.

[Chiswickian]

I've got some on the go too, so no you're not alone   ...  

On the patio are :-

Physalis Tomatillo - Violet
Physalis - Tomatillo Mexican Green Husk
Physalis Tomatillo - Pineapple
And Physalis Edulis - Cape Gooseberry

All growing and flowering for England. Its still a little early for the flowers to set though, I did get fruit last year but it was VERY late in the season and they didn't ripen.

A quick Google suggests though that they are self sterile so you need 2 plants to get fruit   you don't just have the 1 plant left do you ?

Yup, I discarded the other seedlings long ago. Damn!! Well done you on the google searcg - I tried and couldn't find anything about neding two plants. Ah well, there's always next year....

[loam ranger]

I have 5 tomatilloes growing in my polly tunnel they are huge with loads of fruit on them, which look like chinese lanterns, I havn`t a clue what to do with them?
Geoff

[mrs.ploppy]

I am growing lots of Tomatilloo plants.  No fruit set yet but many flowers.  Used in chutneys, pickles and important in salsa!  Can't wait to try mine as I make lots of chutney and pickle.  Have over 70 plants on the go at moment of many differant varieties of tomato.

[Lardman]

Yup, I discarded the other seedlings long ago. Damn!! Well done you on the google searcg - I tried and couldn't find anything about neding two plants. Ah well, there's always next year....

Can we match the variety ? I wonder if someone could send you some cotton buds with pollen on ? Anyone tried that sort of thing - would it survive the Royal Mail.

Thoughts ??

[gillie]

I have grown tomatilloes for several years.  I find them very easy  grown in the greenhouse beside the tomatoes and treated in much the same way, except that I do not try to sideshoot them and just tie the bushy plant up loosely.  I find one plant gives me plenty and they need no assistance with pollination. 

You can pick them when you can feel a good sized berry inside the papery cover but I have read that the best way to harvest them is to wait for the fruit to drop off.

Most of our crop ends up in guacomole but you can use them in any tomato dish.

[zazen999]

You get the flowers, then the flowers turn in to lanterns, and in the lanterns grow the fruits.....I've not seen them fruiting this early. Once the lanterns have been around a few weeks, have a little squeeze and you should be able to feel the little round fruits at the top of the lanterns.

[JWK]

I grew these for the first time this year, one for me and one for a friend . Mistake! Like has been said you need two to cross pollinate - so I donated my only plant to my friend. Next year I'll grow 2 or more for me.

[Sal1610]

I've got three in a growbag in the greenhouse, and they are flowering like mad too! Lots of little lanterns lower down where the flowers have already been pollinated (I hope) - had a couple of bees visiting the greenhouse so hopefully they'll have done their thing...

[Chuffy]

I planted mine in a block (about 4x4 I think) and they're going a bomb. Loads of lanterns and lots of fruit coming. In fact the fruit has been developing for quite a few weeks now. I just hope they ripen properly...

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, who was it that sung that song about them SHOW ME THE WAY TO TOMATILLO.

[Chiswickian]

Oh I gave up - it was too distressing to see so many flowers on the plant and not a single one fruiting. It's in the compost bin now. TWO plants for me next year!!
Thanks all.