How to Grow Tomatillos

By the SoilCommander Editorial Team, under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder · · How we check our facts

On this page
  1. Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)
  2. At a Glance
  3. Quick Facts
  4. Soil & Growing Conditions
  5. Growth Stages
  6. Harvest & Storage
  7. Diseases
  8. Pests
  9. Plan your Tomatillos planting
  10. Growing Tomatillo in another region
  11. Sources
  12. Frequently Asked Questions

Tomatillos are ready to harvest 60–75 days after planting.

The short answer

Ready in
60–75 days
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7
Biggest risk
Powdery mildew

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)

A bee visiting a yellow tomatillo flower — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 22 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

7 sources cited · Verified

At a Glance

A tomatillo husk hanging on the plant — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 16 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 16 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Physalis philadelphica Tomatillo Powdery mildew Aphids Flea beetles DISEASES PESTS

Quick Facts

A tomatillo husk hanging on the plant — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 16 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 16 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7
Sunlight 6-6 hours direct sun
Germination temp 27°C
Time to harvest 60-75 days
Drainage Well-drained
Lifecycle annual
Edible parts fruit

Soil & Growing Conditions

A bee visiting a yellow tomatillo flower — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 22 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 22 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Close-up of a green, ridged tomatillo husk — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 17 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 17 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Stage BBCH Notes
Transplanting 0 Plant transplants out after frost threat has passed in late spring (NC State Extension).
Sprawling growth 3 Rapid, indeterminate, sprawling growth to 3-4 feet; stems root where touching ground, benefiting from support (NC State Extension).
Flowering and fruit set 6 Small bell-shaped flowers appear; plant multiple tomatillos for better fruit set due to poor self-pollination (NC State Extension).
Fruit ripening and harvest 8 Ready for harvest about 60-75 days from transplanting, continuing until first frost (NC State Extension).

Harvest & Storage

A tomatillo fruit visible through its split, dried husk — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 40 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 40 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

When to pick: USU: "Expect to begin harvesting fruit about 60-75 days from transplanting"; "Tomatillos are ripe when the fruit is firm and fills the papery husk"; purple varieties ready "when the green fruits turn purple and fill the husk". RHS: fruit "ripen from green to yellow or purple", enclosed in "thin, paper-like husk".

Storage

Best used fresh; husk helps protect fruit for short-term storage

Diseases

A ripening tomatillo husk on the vine — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 34 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 34 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Pests

A bee visiting a yellow tomatillo flower — “Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 22 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Kluse - Physalis philadelphica - Tomatillo 22 ies” by Frank Vincentz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Aphididae (various spp.)

Flea beetles

Chrysomelidae: Alticini (various spp.)

Plan your Tomatillos planting

Timing for Tomatillos follows soil temperature and frost, not the calendar date. The Global vegetable planting calendar explains the method. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.

Growing Tomatillo in another region

Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.

Sources

These source is specific to this region. The full list of 7 sources behind this guide (GBIF, NC State Extension, Royal Horticultural Society and others) is in the references of our UK guide to tomatillos; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do tomatillos take to grow?

Typically 60–75 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do tomatillos need?

A pH of about 6–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect tomatillos?

Our data links 1 disease and 2 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team — under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder

Every growing guide is checked against RHS, USDA Cooperative Extension, and other named horticultural authorities before publishing. How we check our facts.

How this guide is put together

The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against international horticultural research and extension sources. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.

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Last verified 2026-08-29

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Relevant next steps

Where To Go From Here

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