Fruits from the nightshade family are known for having tons of nutrients. These are not only healthy, but they also taste quite good which makes them a great option to go. Keeping this in mind, tomatillos are among some of the most popular fruits from this family that are planted all around the world. The fruit can be used to make different types of Mexican dishes. Additionally, it is often used as the base ingredient which is why ensuring that it tastes good is important.
Considering this, people often decide to grow the fruit in their gardens. When it comes to this, a common question is often asked which is “Can you grow just one tomatillo plant?”. If you are also wondering about this, then going through this article should help you in getting all the relevant information required about this query. Additionally, we will be providing you with some ways that can be used to keep your fruits healthy.
Can You Grow Just One Tomatillo Plant?
Tomatillo plants cannot self-pollinate which means that they require plants to carry over the pollen contained in them. Though, this also means that if you only have a single plant in your garden then it will not produce any fruits. Pollination is necessary for these plants to grow new seeds and fruits which is why at least two of them are required. Though, this is not the only thing that you need to keep in check when growing tomatillos.
The condition of the fruits as well as where they are planted, all play a huge role in whether new fruits will grow out. The first thing that people have to do is plant their tomatillos close to each other. However, these are also invasive plants which is why having support for them is essential. Multiple ways can be used for it including using a wooden beam that can be used by the plant to grow upwards.
On the other hand, another way this can be done is that you plant the tomatillos inside a cage. If done properly, then the plants should use the cage as a support and grow inside them. Keep in mind that the cage should be planted deep inside the soil, so its roots have space to spread. If there is not enough space, then the tomatillo plant will get weaker day by day and eventually die out. Even if it somehow survives, the growth will be slowed down which can prevent people from getting new fruits.
As long as these steps are taken care of, the tomatillos should start growing new fruits on them. When it comes to the distance required between the two plants, you should ensure that these are about 6 to 8 inches apart. This distance helps in ensuring that the pollen can easily be spread to the other plant, allowing it to pollinate and grow new fruits.
When harvesting the fruits from your plant, some additional steps should be kept in mind. The fruit usually grows from its inside which is why you will notice the papery husk on it getting filled up over time. Eventually, the husk starts to form cracks which indicate that the tomatillos are now ready to be harvested. The information provided above is enough to understand how you can grow tomatillos and that at least two plants are required to do so.
Keeping Tomatillos Healthy
Tomatillos are plants that require about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day to stay in optimal condition. Hence, you should carefully plant the fruits as it will help them in staying healthy. As long as your plants are getting several hours of sunlight every day, most of the nutrients required by it should be fulfilled. Although, watering the plant is another important thing that you need to keep check over.
This should be done every day as well, but the water amount should be enough to keep the soil moist. Any more than that will cause the liquid to gather inside the soil, suffocating the roots as a result. The best way to water your plants is by having a drainage system that allows extra water to escape through them. Once done, the water around your tomatillos should stay moist every time you water it while the excess liquid should escape through the drainage.