Tomatillos: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Tomatillos with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 4, transplant ~Apr 29 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
—
Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About tomatillos
Tomatillos produce dozens of husked green fruits essential for authentic salsa verde, with vigorous sprawling plants that often outproduce tomatoes in hot summers.
Spacing & yield
Tomatillos wants 24×36 inches and about 5 lb per plant at ~75 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Plant at least two plants for cross-pollination — a single tomatillo will set little to no fruit.
- Cage or stake heavily; tomatillo plants spread wider than tomatoes.
- Harvest when the husk splits and fruit fills it completely for peak tanginess.
- Pinch suckers less aggressively than tomatoes — tomatillos produce on lateral branches.
Common mistakes
- Growing only one plant; tomatillos require cross-pollination and will not self-fruit reliably.
- Waiting for fruit to turn yellow before harvesting — green is the correct stage for salsa verde.
- Under-spacing below 24 inches, creating a tangled mess impossible to harvest.
Harvest & storage
Pick when husks are papery and fruit has filled the husk completely, about 75 days from transplant.
Leave husks on and store at room temperature for 1-2 weeks, or refrigerate for up to a month.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for tomatillos: basil, peppers, carrots, marigold. Avoid planting beside: fennel, dill, kohlrabi.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 6 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks after frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should tomatillos be planted?
- Space 24 inches in-row and 36 inches between rows; always plant at least 2 for cross-pollination.
- How much does one tomatillo plant produce?
- A single plant yields about 5 lb of husked fruit — typically 50-75 individual tomatillos.
- How long until tomatillos are ready?
- First harvest is about 75 days from transplant; production continues until frost kills the vines.