Tomatillo Plant Size

A tomatillo plant can be a fantastic addition to about any garden, but homeowners must manage it properly. Tomatillo plants grow both wide and tall. Given how much space tomatillo plants could end up covering, it is best to prepare beforehand.

Are tomatillo plants worth giving up that kind of space for? They could be for people who love salsa verde and other dishes that benefit from receiving the distinctive flavors of that fruit. Devote a sizable chunk of real estate to tomatillos, and one may start selling some delicious homemade treats on the side.

Learn more about the maximum tomatillo plant size and how to accommodate it by continuing this article.

What Is the Maximum Tomatillo Plant Size?

Many people are interested in growing their own plants at home. It is easy to see why since doing so can help them save money. On top of that, having easy access to fruits and vegetables can encourage people to develop healthier eating habits.

Of course, not everyone can grow plants on their property whenever they want. One of the major stumbling blocks to that goal is a lack of space. Those plants need room to grow and flourish, and that space is not something all homeowners can provide.

Could a lack of space also prove to be an issue for those interested in growing tomatillo plants? It is certainly a possibility.

Starting with the sprawl, homeowners will need to give tomatillo plants a good amount of space to spread their vines. Tomatillo plants can grow wide enough to take up around four feet of space. That is something homeowners must keep in mind as they lay out their garden.

Accommodating the tomatillo plants vertically is not as big of a concern. Odds are most homeowners can comfortably accommodate a fully grown tomatillo plant.

Still, it is worth knowing about the maximum height the plant could reach. On average, homeowners can expect a tomatillo plant to grow to about four feet max.

Tomatillos may not be the largest plants homeowners can grow, but they consume a significant amount of space nonetheless. Homeowners must prepare for that.

What Is the Process of Growing Tomatillo Plants?

Does growing tomatillos sound like an enticing proposition? Learning about how big they can grow should let homeowners know whether they can plant tomatillos or not.

For those who have the space to grow tomatillo plants and are interested in doing so, the following tips should help lead to a bountiful harvest.

Step 1: Determine How Many Tomatillo Plants Will Be Grown

The first thing homeowners need to do is determine how many tomatillo plants they want to grow. Homeowners need to nail this down to figure out if they have enough space.

Gardening experts recommend going with two to four plants. That may not seem like a lot, but two to four plants should supply a typical household with enough tomatillos to last for the year.

According to Mother Earth Gardener, a single plant can produce 10 to 15 pounds of tomatillos. Those plants will also continue to bear fruit well into the fall, so gardeners can expect to enjoy fresh tomatillos for much of the year.

Homeowners can proceed to the next step after deciding how many tomatillo plants they want to grow.

Step 2: Make Sure There is Enough Room for the Tomatillo Plants

Next up, homeowners need enough room to for the tomatillo plants to spread out. Remember that tomatillo plants can grow up to four feet tall and spread out across four feet.

Clearing out space on the ground is what homeowners need to worry about. Apart from providing four feet for each plant to spread, homeowners also need to create sufficient space between them.

Gardeners recommend separating each tomatillo plant by at least three feet. That additional space will come in handy when the time comes to harvest the plants. Homeowners can also adjust the number of tomatillo plants they want to grow based on those spacing recommendations.

The entire space should also get sunlight regularly to make sure the plants grow properly.

Step 3: Secure Support for the Tomatillo Plants

Although not an absolute must for growing tomatillos, putting some structures in the ground can help those plants grow better. The structures that can help with tomatillo plant growth are tomato cages and gardening trellises.

A tomato cage can be helpful because it encourages the tomatillo plant to grow vertically. That will prevent the fruits from weighing the plant down as they start to grow.

Gardening trellises work similarly to tomato cages. However, they do take up more space compared to tomato cages.

Step 4: Prepare the Soil

To achieve maximum tomatillo plant size, home gardeners must grow them in the right type of soil.

The ideal soil for tomatillo plants will have a pH level in the range of 6.5 to 7.0. The soil should also allow water to drain easily. Tilling the soil may be necessary if it struggles with drainage.

Adding some organic mulch should also stimulate the growth of the tomatillo plants. Two to three inches of mulch should suffice.

Step 5: Start Growing the Tomatillo Plants

Tomatillo plants can first be grown indoors before they are planted in the soil. Gardeners are encouraged to start growing the tomatillo plants indoors about six to eight weeks before moving outside.

This can be tricky because homeowners need to watch out for frost before taking the tomatillos outside. Do not put the plants in the ground if there is still frost out there.

Step 6: Watch Over the Tomatillo Plants

Gardeners can now wait for the plants to start bearing tomatillos. In terms of upkeep, the tomatillo plants need water. Replenishing them with about an inch of water per week should be enough.

Step 7: Harvest the Tomatillos

The last step involves harvesting the tomatillos. One can tell that a tomatillo is ready for harvesting if it has started to break through its husk.

Home gardeners can also refer to the calendar to check if the tomatillos are ready. More often than not, the plants will start to bear fruit 75 to 100 days after they are in the ground.

Tomatillo plants can grow up to four feet and occupy that same amount of space on the ground. People can grow tomatillo plants that reach that size if they pay close attention to what they are doing. The tips detailed in this article will help home gardeners achieve that goal.