I have three sprawling plants with some fruit that are bursting out of their husks! The problem is they taste horrid!!! bitter and sour which tells me they are not ready to eat! They are still quite hard!
I planted them at the end of my aubergine row and I suspect they are getting too much water!
"The fruits average about 1 -2" wide and have a papery outer skin. The tomatillo is actually used when it is still green. If you see the photo below one of the tomatillos is just turning a light yellow and indicates that is ripe and past its prime for most uses. Tomatillos have a very tart flavor, not at all like a tomato." from Gourmet Sleuth http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/tomatillos.htm
So it sounds like your tomatillos are fine - they're supposed to taste like that. It says you usually eat them cooked and has a recipe for salsa. So you won't be slicing them into your salads I guess. Google for tomatillo recipes, and also "green tomato" recipes. Apparently when you see a recipe for "green tomato chutney" (or "fried green tomatoes") it means tomatillos, not tomatoes that haven't turned red yet. I didn't know that.
Never ehard that about the tomatillos/green tomato thing. Green tomato pickles and chutneys have been made here for much longer than tomatillos have beena vailable, I suspect. Was it an American site? Interesting, though, but I disagree 8) Love green toamtoes, very versatile.
I've grown tomatillos for years now, but not this year for some reason. I like the violet ones as well as the green ones. When ripe, they should be the same softness as a tomato, just a bit of give when pressed ightly. They shouldn't be hard. When ripe, the husks will split open to reveal the fruit inside. They need a lot of warmth to get the best out of them. The plants can get a bit wild, but just nip out the tops to keep them under control,a nd keep them tied in. I think they taste like a sharp tomato, and I love them.
they make great salsa, also chutney.
Thanks soooo much for your replies. I'm looking forward to trying the recipies! Great site Chickpes Thanks!
Luath I still think there is something wrong! Some fruits have outgrown their husks and are still very hard like peppers, no where near the tomato stage yet!! and there's no problem with the heat I'm in Spain!! It's my first year growing them and I'm being too fussy!! I see what you mean about keeping them in control! wild plants!!!
Tree tomatoes are called tamarillo I think, I've got 2 seeds that I'm gonna try in spring! Tamatillo's are good for making chutney.
PS I still don't like tomitillo's tried a few recipies not for me!!!! Not growing them again! YUCK
i grow tomatillos every year i love them I use them to make chutney, salsa etc. The ones I grow are the purple type they do stay green for quite a while though, they will keep cropping for a long while if you can keep the frost off although last year I pulled them up still full of fruit because I had too many.
I bought some tomatillo seeds and forgot to plant them so didn't get to try them. same for my cape gooseberries never eaten tomatillos, not so sure now though I do like sour flavors. mind you we eat salsa so they won't get wasted
They are still quite hard!
never eaten tomatillos, not so sure now