4 tomatillos. Only 1 producing

ginny · May 10, 2013

I have 4 plants. Only one is producing. Other 3 have many flowers but no tomatillos. Why???

livinonfaith · May 10, 2013

I do know that they need at least two plants to fruit.

The year I grew them, it appeared that one was "female" and most of the little "balloons" would swell and turn to fruit. The other seemed to be "male". It was covered in blooms which turned into smaller "ballons", but most didn't swell or develop into fruit.

The "male" did have a few fruit later in the season, but only a handful.

If may be that three of yours are non fruit bearing (or late fruit bearing) and only one is going to be "female" and bear a lot of fruit. I don't have any clue why they become one way or the other.

Fortunately, even one plant will give you a nice amount of fruit.

Worth1 · May 11, 2013

There is no such thing as a male and female tomatillo plant.
They are just hard to get to set fruit sometimes.
Later in the year they should do fine.

Where I live I find them to be a waste of space and time.
They are so cheap at the store.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/m...sk_tomato.html

Worth

livinonfaith · May 13, 2013

Sorry! Apparently I was wrong.

Mine did do what you are talking about. Worth knows a lot more than I do so hopefully they will get better.

Worth1 · May 13, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by livinonfaith

Sorry! Apparently I was wrong.

Mine did do what you are talking about. Worth knows a lot more than I do so hopefully they will get better.

Only because I asked here 1 year ago.
We all have to learn.

worth

ginny · May 13, 2013

That is what I figured. Thank you. I just started these from seeds and I got fruit very quick. I will be patient

livinonfaith · May 14, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Only because I asked here 1 year ago.
We all have to learn.

worth

Very true, Worth. One of the main things I still need to learn is to hold my tongue until I actually know what I'm talking about.

It's something I've worked on my whole life and still haven't quite mastered. Finally did get pretty good at admitting when I'm wrong, though! (You have to, when you're wrong as much as I am.)

Lcottomsvcs · May 30, 2013

I was in the bad position of having only one tomatillo plant last year. I did not know I needed more than one, and the local garden center did not educate me. I learned about tomatillos from the good folks here at Tville. This year I have four, and two are purple just so I can make Brokenbar's violet salsa. They are growing quite weedily, but no flowers yet. I have great hopes for later in the summer.

May 10, 2013	#1
ginny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 2	4 tomatillos. Only 1 producing I have 4 plants. Only one is producing. Other 3 have many flowers but no tomatillos. Why???

May 30, 2013	#8
Lcottomsvcs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 123	I was in the bad position of having only one tomatillo plant last year. I did not know I needed more than one, and the local garden center did not educate me. I learned about tomatillos from the good folks here at Tville. This year I have four, and two are purple just so I can make Brokenbar's violet salsa. They are growing quite weedily, but no flowers yet. I have great hopes for later in the summer. __________________ Gardening is not a rational act. Margaret Atwood

May 10, 2013	#2
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	I do know that they need at least two plants to fruit. The year I grew them, it appeared that one was "female" and most of the little "balloons" would swell and turn to fruit. The other seemed to be "male". It was covered in blooms which turned into smaller "ballons", but most didn't swell or develop into fruit. The "male" did have a few fruit later in the season, but only a handful. If may be that three of yours are non fruit bearing (or late fruit bearing) and only one is going to be "female" and bear a lot of fruit. I don't have any clue why they become one way or the other. Fortunately, even one plant will give you a nice amount of fruit.

May 11, 2013	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	There is no such thing as a male and female tomatillo plant. They are just hard to get to set fruit sometimes. Later in the year they should do fine. Where I live I find them to be a waste of space and time. They are so cheap at the store. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/m...sk_tomato.html Worth

May 13, 2013	#4
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	Sorry! Apparently I was wrong. Mine did do what you are talking about. Worth knows a lot more than I do so hopefully they will get better.