Botanical Name: Physalis philadelphica
Days to Maturity: 65 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Native: Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Plant Dimensions: 3'–6' tall; sprawling if not staked
Variety Information: 1"–2" lime-green fruit inside a thin, papery shell. 'Toma Verde' is adapted to grow in a wider range of climates than most tomatillos.
When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 80°–85°F.
Days to Emerge: 10 days
Seed Depth: ¼"
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 24"–36"
Row Spacing: 36"–48"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 24"–36"
Harvesting: Fruits should be harvested when they are green, almost fill the husk, and the husk has changed from green to tan. Fruit at the bottom of the plant ripens first. If left on the vine too long, and allowed to turn yellow or purple, they lose their bright flavor and become seedy.