Tomatillo Planting Guide

May

Planting tomatillo in May

This page is about tomatillo in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–85

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water tomatillo
About an inch of water a week keeps tomatillo happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put tomatillo
South-facing beds are ideal for tomatillo. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant tomatillo. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant tomatillo where you live →

Tomatillos are a Mexican staple that produces tart, green fruits enclosed in papery husks. They are essential for salsa verde and green sauces.

Physalis philadelphica · Vegetable · Solanaceae family · 60–85 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Tomatillo Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Tomatillo?

Zone Compatibility for Tomatillo Zones 4a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 4a	Mar 4	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Oct 7
Zone 4b	Feb 27	May 15	May 22	Jul 24 – Oct 2
Zone 5a	Feb 28	May 2	May 9	Jul 11 – Sep 19
Zone 5b	Feb 21	Apr 25	May 2	Jul 4 – Sep 12
Zone 6a	Feb 13	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jun 26 – Sep 4
Zone 6b	Feb 6	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 19 – Aug 28
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 10 – Aug 19
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 3 – Aug 12
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 24 – Aug 2
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 13 – Jul 22
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 21 – Jun 30
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 25	Feb 1	Apr 5 – Jun 14
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21

How to Plant Tomatillo

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 4a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Solanaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Solanaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Tomatillo

Tomatillo matures in just 60–85 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Tomatillo

✅ Good Companions

Basil Peppers Carrots

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel Dill

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Tomatillo

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant at least two plants for cross-pollination. Harvest when fruits fill the husk and it begins to split.

Saving Tomatillo Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

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Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
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Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

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Tomatillo by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Tomatillo?

Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) takes 60 to 85 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Tomatillo grow in?

Tomatillo can be grown in USDA zones 4a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Tomatillo need?

Growing Tomatillo requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.