Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Mexican Husk Tomato

Description:

Compact and easy to grow, this variety produces prolific yields of firm green fruit encased in a paper husk; tart and tangy while fresh becoming sweet when roasted or grilled; perfect for salsas, dips, sauces and soups; wonderful in containers

Edible Qualities

Grande Rio Verde Tomatillo is an annual vegetable plant that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces green round fruit (technically 'capsules') with white flesh which are usually ready for picking from late summer to mid fall The fruits have a tart taste and a firm texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Cooking
• Baking
• Sauces

Planting & Growing

Grande Rio Verde Tomatillo will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. When planted in rows, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet apart. Because of its vigorous growth habit, it may require staking or supplemental support. This fast-growing vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop.

This plant is typically grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and it is considered by many to be an heirloom variety.

Grande Rio Verde Tomatillo is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.