Why Isn’t My Tomatillo Plant Producing Fruit?
Are you staring at a healthy tomatillo plant without any fruit? Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn a few reasons why your tomatillo isn’t producing fruit.
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Tomatillos often take the backseat to the more popular tomatoes, but these summer fruits are equally deserving of a spot in the garden. The firm green fruits are encased in a beautiful paper husk, and their acidic flavor makes salads and salsas pop.
While tomatillo plants are relatively easy to care for, they are susceptible to problems. One of the most frustrating issues is when your tomatillo plant isn’t producing fruit.
Environmental conditions, planting time, poor pollination, and other factors can all lead to a lack of fruit. Keep reading to learn a few reasons why your tomatillo plant is void of fruit and what you can do to fix this.
The Short Answer
If your tomatillo plant isn’t producing fruit, numerous factors could be to blame. Not enough light, poor pollination, and high temperature are some possible causes.
It’s important to note that tomatillo plants are self-incompatible, meaning a plant cannot fertilize its own flowers. Planting at least two tomatillo plants is essential for proper pollination and fruit production.
The Long Answer
If you notice your tomatillo plant isn’t producing fruit, something is wrong. It’s up to you to figure out why. Here are a few reasons why your tomatillo plant might not be fruiting.
Poor Pollination
If you notice your plant is producing lots of bright yellow flowers but no fruits, poor pollination is the most likely cause.
Plant at Least Two Tomatillo Plants
First, ensure you have at least two tomatillo plants in your garden. Tomatillos are not self-fertile, meaning pollen from one plant can’t fertilize its own flowers. If you plant a single tomatillo, you’ll probably never experience the joy of picking tasty green fruits.
Planting at least two tomatillo plants in your garden will allow for successful pollination. Ideally, you’ll plant two tomatillos of the same variety, but different cultivars can also act as pollinators.
With multiple plants in your garden, pollinators like bees and wasps will get to work. As they visit one plant’s flowers, they’ll pick up pollen. They’ll then carry this pollen to another plant’s flowers, allowing for successful pollination and fruit set.
Support Pollinators
If you have two tomatillo plants with flowers and are still noticing a lack of fruit, check in on your pollinators. Tomatillos are primarily pollinated by insects, such as bees and wasps, so a lack of these pollinators will result in few or no fruits.
You can support these pollinators by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides that indiscriminately impact all types of insects. Even if you apply these products to kill pests like aphids and harlequin bugs, they’ll also harm bees. Instead, opt for pesticide-free control methods or choose products that only target certain pests.
Planting a diversity of flowering plants will also help attract pollinators. While you may be interested in having them visit your tomatillo flowers, these insects need pollen and nectar at other times of the year. Adding spring-blooming and fall-blooming plants to your garden will supply bees with an abundant supply of food.
Not Enough Sunlight
If your tomatillo plant isn’t producing fruits or flowers, too little light could be the cause. Flower production is an energy-intensive process, so plants won’t bloom if they don’t receive enough light.
Tomatillos grow best when they receive at least eight hours of direct light. They may be able to get away with as few as six hours, but don’t be surprised if you notice a decline in flower production. Planting your tomatillo plants in full shade is a definite no-no.
Immature Plant
If your plant looks healthy but is newly transplanted, the issue may be simple; the plant just needs more time to grow. These plants will take about a month to begin flowering and even longer to produce fruit.
You can expect to start harvesting ripe tomatillos about 75-90 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. So, don’t fret if you don’t see fruits developing during the first month they’re in the ground.
Fortunately, this problem is easy to fix. Just give the plants more time to grow! As long as they remain healthy, they’ll begin producing flowers and fruits in a few more weeks.
Improper Fertilization
Tomatillo plants appreciate fertilization, but applying the wrong type of fertilizer can cause issues with flower and fruit production. If you notice your tomatillo plant isn’t producing fruit, take a look at what type of fertilizer you applied.
Tomatillos require nitrogen to produce new growth and complete important plant processes, but adding too much of this nutrient can limit flowering. If you applied lots of nitrogen and little to no phosphorus and potassium, few flowers are even more likely.
Adding a tomato fertilizer is a good option for tomatillos. These plants have similar nutrient needs, and a well-balanced fertilizer will provide the proper amount of each nutrient.
Hot Temperatures
Tomatillos, like tomatoes, are sensitive to prolonged periods of hot temperatures. When daytime temperatures are consistently above 90°F (32°C) or nighttime temperatures are above 70°F (21°C), these plants have difficulties setting fruit.
Hot temperatures can cause the flowers to prematurely drop from the plants or lead to the fruits aborting before they have time to mature. You can’t change the weather, but you can help encourage fruit production by providing your tomatillos with afternoon shade. Try planting them on the eastern side of a building or row of tall plants.
Tips for Encouraging Tomatillo Fruit Production
If you’re dreaming of tomatillo plants loaded with husk-covered fruits, keep these tips in mind.
- Plant in full sun. Ensure the plants receive at least six hours of direct daily light, but don’t be afraid to provide afternoon shade if you live in a hot climate.
- Grow at least two plants. Tomatillos aren’t self-fertile. Planting at least two plants ensures the plants can experience proper pollination.
- Support pollinators. Take care of bees and other pollinators by avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides and growing an array of flowering plants.
Apply a suitable fertilizer. Skip the high-nitrogen fertilizer in favor of a product that also provides potassium and phosphorus.
