how can you tell when tomatillos are ripe?

[academy92101]

and what do you do with them when they are?

thanks.

[Dana Schultz]

If I recall.....they turn slightly yellow when ripe. And you eat them. Just pop them into your mouth minus the outer papery shell. They are very delicious.

[Steve]

I don't grow them but I'm told that if you want to make your own salsa, you need tomatillos to do it right.

Steve

[RR]

That, my sweet, is strictly a matter of opinion! Don't know if I succeeded or not but, I've tried to eradicate all the volunteers from our garden.

Ross. Southern Ontario, Canada. New AgCanada Zone 5b

43º17'15" North 80º13'32" West To email, remove the obvious from my address.

[RR]

The fruit grows to about 2" inside a papery husk. Harvest when the tomatillo is just turning yellow. They will be hard. They are a required ingredient when making a true salsa verde. Also, they must be an acquired taste and, it's one that I have not yet acquired. There is also a variety known as Pineapple Tomatillo which we got from Pinetree Seeds several years ago. From Pinetree's catalogue: "It really tastes like a pineapple! The large spreading plants are 3' across and covered with hundreds of fruit that are quite different from other tomatillos. They are only about 3/4" in diameter and soft so they are great for eating fresh. They tend to fall from the plant when ripe. Great for preserves and pies". BTW, these are the ones that Dana likes ;-).

Ross. Southern Ontario, Canada. New AgCanada Zone 5b

43º17'15" North 80º13'32" West To email, remove the obvious from my address.