Tomatillos produce green or purple fruits encased in a papery husk. Distant cousins to a tomato with a tangy, slightly acidic flavor, tomatillos are ready to harvest 75-100 days after the seedlings are settled in the garden. The fruit will completely fill the husk and easily pull off the plant.
As an indeterminate plant, tomatillos continue to flower and produce fruit throughout the summer until frost. Because of the husk and green color, it can be confusing about when to harvest a tomatillo.
When to Harvest Purple Tomatillos for Maximum Flavor
Purple tomatillos add a burst of sweet, fruity flavor to salsas, tacos, enchiladas, and more. But knowing when to harvest these colorful fruits can be tricky if you’ve never grown them before. Unlike green tomatillos that are ripe when green, purple tomatillos go through color changes during ripening that can throw you off. Use this guide to identify the signs of ripeness so you’ll know just when to start picking your purple tomatillos.
An Overview of Purple Tomatillos
Purple tomatillos (Physalis ixocarpa) are close cousins to the more common green tomatillos. Like green tomatillos, they belong to the nightshade family and are enveloped in a papery husk that splits open when the fruit is mature. Purple tomatillos were originally cultivated in Mexico and Central America but have become increasingly popular to grow in home gardens.
These sweet and tangy fruits can vary in shade from deep purple to light yellow as they ripen. The most commonly grown variety is called ‘De Milpa’ which transitions from green to purple to pale yellow during ripening. Compared to green tomatillos, purple varieties tend to be less tart and have a sweeter, more fruit-like flavor. Their color and flavor make purple tomatillos an exciting ingredient for salsas, tacos, enchiladas and more Mexican dishes.
Signs Your Purple Tomatillos Are Ready to Harvest
Purple tomatillos usually reach maturity about 75-100 days after transplanting into the garden. However, time to harvest depends on climate, weather, and growing conditions. Here are signs your purple tomatillos are approaching peak ripeness:
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Fruits fill out husks completely – Young, unripe fruits only partially fill the husks.
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Husk turns tan or light brown – Indicates the fruit is mature and ready for harvest.
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Husk becomes dry and papery – Loses moisture as it ripens.
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Cracks and splits form in husk – Exposes the ripe fruit inside.
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Husk bursts open – Most reliable sign of ripeness. Fruit easily detaches.
Ideal Color for Picking Purple Tomatillos
With green tomatillos, it’s recommended to harvest when the fruits are still green before yellowing occurs. Purple tomatillos follow a different color pattern:
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Green – Unripe, immature stage.
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Purple – Ripe stage with tangy flavor. Best for harvesting.
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Yellow – Fully ripe with sweeter, less tart flavor. Still ok to harvest.
For maximum tangy flavor, harvest your purple tomatillos when they are still purple, before turning yellow. But you can continue harvesting as they become more yellow, keeping in mind the flavor will become less tart and more sweet.
Harvesting Tips
Follow these tips to harvest purple tomatillos at perfect ripeness:
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Check plants daily once fruits fill husks, as splitting can happen fast.
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Harvest in the morning when cool and firm. Avoid hot afternoons.
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Gently tug fruits with open husks. If they release easily, they are ready for harvest.
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Use pruning shears to clip fruits off rather than pulling.
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Handle gently to prevent bruising.
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Check under plants for fallen fruits.
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Avoid fruits with cracks, damage, or mold.
Proper Storage
After harvest, rinse off sticky residue from the husks and pat dry before storing. To store short term, keep harvested purple tomatillos in a single layer in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Place in a paper or perforated plastic bag. For longer storage, purple tomatillos can be frozen or canned. Frozen, they’ll last about 6 months. Canned in jars, they can keep for a year.
With the right harvesting techniques and storage, you can enjoy your homegrown purple tomatillos for months after the growing season ends. Their color and sweet-tart flavor make salsas, tacos, and other dishes much more vibrant and exciting. Follow these tips for identifying ripeness in purple tomatillos, and you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful, colorful harvest.
When to Harvest Tomatillos
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The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
For the freshest fruit, its a good idea to harvest tomatillos in the early morning before the temperature rises.
Since tomatillos are indeterminate, they will not flower and set fruit all at once. Harvesting should be done every few days throughout the growing season.
The fruit should be firm, the papery husk should be full, and a good hack to follow that tomatillos are ready? The fruit will often drop off the plant before it is fully ripened. These fruits can be gathered and stored in a cool, dry place in the husk until fully firm and ripe.
5 Signs Tomatillos Are Ripe and Ready to Pick
- Its been 3-4 months since you planted. The first tomatillos are usually ready to be harvested 60 to 75 days after the seedlings are placed in the garden or settled into a container for the summer.
- The fruit is firm. If a tomatillo feels soft, its likely overripe and less flavorful.
- Its reached peak color. For example, a purple tomatillo variety will be firm, purple, and no longer green when ready to pick.
- The husk changes from green to a light brown. The husk will be dry surrounding the tomatillo.
- The papery husk has not yet split. A fully-split husk means the fruit is overripe.
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FAQ
How to tell when purple tomatillos are ripe?
A ripe tomatillo is firm and fills the outer husk. Green varieties should be bright green and not yellow. Purple varieties should be a deep purple.Jun 16, 2024
Are purple tomatillos OK to eat?
Tomatillos Of A Different Color There are many different tomatillo varieties, though some are more difficult to find than others. We’re big fans of the purple varieties, as the flavor tends to be much sweeter. Purple tomatillos can be eaten fresh off the vine, though we much prefer to grill them or make purple salsa.
Do purple tomatillos turn green when cooked?
The roasting is what changed the color. If you do fresh tomatillos, unroasted, it will remain bright green. Throw a roasted poblano in there if you want a little of that flavor.
What does an overripe tomatillo look like?
Overripe tomatillos will turn yellowish green and be milder and sweeter than the characteristic tart citrus flavor.