Can Different Types of Tomatillos pollinate Each Other?

lapk78 · May 4, 2022

Hi All, I'm growing a total of three tomatillo plants in a raised bed - Two of them are of the same variety, and the third plant is a different variety. The two that are of the same variety are growing their paper husks. (I don't actually know if that means the flowers have been pollinated, or if it's possible that the paper husks could not grow fruit inside.)

However, the third plant that is of a different variety is covered in flowers, but none are developing into paper husks. The plant itself is the most vigorous of the three and has been from the start - but no husks at all.

My Question: Can different varieties of tomatillos pollinate each other? I know it's all but required to have two plants for pollination, but I had assumed that inter-variety pollination would be possible. But with the total lack of paper husks developing on the one plant, I'm beginning to question this assumption. I've not been able to find an answer to this specific question anywhere else, so I'm hoping our group here will have something definitive to say. Thanks in advance!!

May 4, 2022	#1
lapk78 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Zone 8B Posts: 118	Can Different Types of Tomatillos pollinate Each Other? Hi All, I'm growing a total of three tomatillo plants in a raised bed - Two of them are of the same variety, and the third plant is a different variety. The two that are of the same variety are growing their paper husks. (I don't actually know if that means the flowers have been pollinated, or if it's possible that the paper husks could not grow fruit inside.) However, the third plant that is of a different variety is covered in flowers, but none are developing into paper husks. The plant itself is the most vigorous of the three and has been from the start - but no husks at all. My Question: Can different varieties of tomatillos pollinate each other? I know it's all but required to have two plants for pollination, but I had assumed that inter-variety pollination would be possible. But with the total lack of paper husks developing on the one plant, I'm beginning to question this assumption. I've not been able to find an answer to this specific question anywhere else, so I'm hoping our group here will have something definitive to say. Thanks in advance!!