How to Grow Pineapple Tomatillos

Start Pineapple tomatillo seeds indoors, six weeks before it is time for outdoor planting, which is a week or two after the average date of the last spring freeze for your area. Fill cell flats with a seed-starting mix composed of vermiculite and peat. Set the cell flats into a solid tray. Water to moisten the potting mix before sowing the seeds. Plant one tomatillo seed in each cell to a depth of four times its width. Cover with a thin layer of potting mix. Place the cell flats in an area free of cold drafts and excess heat. Keep the potting mix moist.

Select a location for your Pineapple tomatillos that receives full sunlight. Tomatillos grow well in most types of soil, as long as they have good drainage. Apply an all-purpose garden fertilizer such as 10-10-10 to the area. Use 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet of garden area. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the area and till it into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil before planting.

After the danger of frost has passed, harden off the six-week old Pineapple tomatillo seedlings outdoors for a few days. Place them in a shady, protected location and gradually expose them to sun. Keep the seedlings protected from frost.

Transplant the tomatillos into the ground. Dig a hole the depth of the seed cell and set the seedling in the hole. Refill the hole and tamp the soil lightly. Space the plants 3 feet apart with rows 3 to 6 feet apart.

Make sure the Pineapple tomatillos receive 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or watering. Water the plants once or twice a week early in the season. Water daily during hot, dry weather. Provide regular water throughout the growing season.

Harvest Pineapple tomatillos 75 days after transplanting them into the ground. They can be harvested when the fruit fills the calyx and the husk bursts. Store the tomatillos in their husks in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks. Husk, wash and freeze to store the fruits for up to three months.