fruit · Solanaceae

Tomatillo

Physalis philadelphica

A heat-loving husked fruit for salsa that needs generous room, sturdy support, and usually more than one plant for reliable fruit set.

Difficulty3 / 5
Cold toleranceVery tender
Space per plant~6.00 ft²
ContainerYes
Supportrequired
Household planning

How many tomatillo plants?

A normal fresh-eating goal with the catalog loss buffer. Preservation needs and appetite can raise the count.

1 adult1–11 typical plants
2 adults1–21 typical plants
4 adults2–42 typical plants
Adjust household, appetite, preserving, and loss →
Season timing

When does it go in?

Typical first actionUsually transplanted
Maturity range65–90 days
Harvest window35–75 days
Latest planting buffer95 days before fall frost

Dates are frost-relative planning windows. Soil temperature, current weather, plant condition, and cultivar instructions can move them.

Calculate dates from my frost date →
Space and harvest

What does one plant ask for?

In-row spacing24–42 in
Between rows36–48 in
Yield range3–10 pounds
Yield confidencelow

Yield ranges assume a surviving plant and still vary with cultivar, soil, sun, weather, pests, watering, and harvest habits.

Container fit

A container can work.

10minimum gallons per plant
15recommended gallons per plant
16″minimum useful depth
Size a container for several plants →