Tomatillos
Tomatillos
Not to be confused with tomatoes, tomatillos also known as “husk tomato” are a key ingredient in a number of Latin American recipes. Areas with larger Hispanic populations would be good potential markets for those interested in growing this specialty crop. Since tomatillo can be a highly variable when it comes to cultivars, growers should consult with their intended market to identify desired qualities such as color and size.
Key Requirements
| Land | Low |
| Labor | High |
| Capital | Medium |
Take the HortBizQuiz to see how much Land, Labor, and Capital you have for your operation.
Markets
- Direct to Consumer
- Restaurants
- Specialty Grocer
Pests & Disease
Tomatillos are generally considered fairly resilient to diseases and insects. Unlike other plants in the solanaceous family, sprays can usually be held off until symptoms or signs are noticed.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Challenges
- High temperatures during flowering can result in poor fruit set.
- Trellising is encouraged rather than letting plants sprall, which is added cost and labor.
- Pesticides registered for tomato are not necessarily labeled for use on tomatillo. Meaning that often, options are limited.
Opportunities
- Selling plants as a part of salsa “kits” can be successful for direct to consumer markets.
- Tomatillos can be grown in a black plastic mulch system.