Tomatillos have a way of filling up a garden with fruit. Once the tomatillo plants are established, they don’t slow down until the season ends. All summer long they’ll keep growing taller, producing flowers, and wrapping the new green fruit in their papery husks.
Unlike some vegetables that ripen all at once, tomatillos are indeterminate. That means they continue to flower and set fruit as long as conditions allow. The plants don’t have a built-in timer that tells them when to stop. Instead, their natural rhythm is interrupted only by colder weather, shorter days, pests, or exhaustion after months of growth.
Harvesting Tomatillos
The harvest cycle with tomatillo plants is steady and ongoing. You won’t pick everything at once. Instead, you’ll collect fruit as it matures across the season.
For the best flavor, pick tomatillos while the fruit is still firm and the husk is papery but beginning to split. Some varieties may shift color when very ripe (turning yellow, having a purple tint, or even blush pink) but most gardeners harvest them green for cooking.
- Tomatillos are ready when their husks split open or feel tight and filled out.
- Fruit that falls to the ground is usually ripe and can be gathered right away.
- Leaving them too long on the vine can make them softer and sometimes less flavorful.
- Regular harvesting encourages the plant to keep flowering and producing more fruit.
Continuous Flowering and Fruit Production
We've grown tomatillos for nearly a decade, and they're voracious producers. As long as the weather is favorable, tomatillo plants simply don’t stop producing. Their cycle looks like this:
- Flowering continues throughout the summer months.
- New fruit forms while older fruit ripens on the vine.
- Harvesting keeps the plant in motion, stimulating more blossoms.
- Growth slows only when temperatures cool or daylight hours shorten.
Because of this, tomatillos can feel almost endless during peak season. A single plant can give dozens of fruits at once, with more on the way just behind them. When we harvest, we keep them in the fridge until we have enough for a hearty batch of salsa verde.
End-of-Season Decline
While tomatillos are strong growers, every season has its limits.
The combination of shorter days, cooler nights, and plant stress usually brings the season to a gradual end even before frost arrives.
Toward the end of summer and into fall, several factors begin to slow production.
- Temperature and Frost: Tomatillos thrive in warmth. Growth slows when daytime highs fall below 70°F and nighttime lows dip under 60°F. Once frost arrives, the plants collapse quickly. Any fruit left on the vine turns to mush after a hard freeze.
- Sunlight: These plants need long days and at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight. As fall approaches and days shorten, new flowers appear less often and fruit sets more slowly.
- Water and Nutrients: Consistent watering keeps plants from stressing, which supports ongoing production. An inch of water per week, applied deeply, is usually enough. Fertile soil with compost or balanced fertilizer will help extend flowering and ripening.
- Common Pests and Disease: Aphids, flea beetles, cutworms, and other microscopic pests can damage leaves and stems. Fungal problems like early blight can also weaken plants. Over time, these issues reduce the infected plant’s ability to keep producing.
What to Do With Late-Season Tomatillos After Harvest
By the time frost is on the horizon, many gardeners still have fruit on the vines. Fortunately, tomatillos are versatile and forgiving.
- Pick Them All Before Danger of Frost: Any fruit that has filled its husk, even if still small, can be picked and used.
- Cook With Underripe Fruit: Slightly underripe tomatillos are still good for mexican food and other delicious recipes. They make excellent salsa verde, sauces, and stews. Their tartness can even be an advantage in cooking.
- Preserve the Harvest: Freeze whole tomatillos for roasting later; can them for salsas and sauces; dehydrate slices for long-term storage.
- Save the Seeds: Overripe fruit left to yellow on the vine can be collected for seed saving. Wash and dry the seeds for planting next spring.
FAQ
How long will tomatillos keep producing?
Tomatillos will continue producing until frost, as long as conditions stay warm and the plants remain healthy. In frost-free regions, lots of plants can keep going into early winter, but shorter days eventually limit growth and fruit yields.
Do tomatillos ripen after picking?
Yes. Mature fruit will continue to ripen off the vine if harvested while firm and well-filled in the husk. Depending on the variety, they may shift color as they ripen, but most are best picked and eaten green.
Can I keep my tomatillo plants safe from frost in cooler temperatures?
Keep a watchful eye, light frosts can sometimes be avoided with row covers, plastic tunnels, or small greenhouses. This may buy you an extra week or two of harvest. Once a hard freeze arrives, though, the plants won’t survive.
What should I do with tomatillos at the very end of the season?
Gather everything you can before frost. Use ripe fruit fresh, cook down large batches for sauce, or preserve the entire fruit. Any leftover underripe tomatillos are still useful in cooked dishes.
