The tomatillo, sometimes referred to as husk tomato ( Physalis philadelphica ), combines excellent features of a useful and ornamental plant. This fairly vigorous annual climber comes from the nightshades family, just like tomato and pepper. It has growing requirements similar to these popular vegetables. The unique, extremely decorative fruit appear on the slender, densely leafed shoots of the tomatillo plant in the second half of summer. Their shape resembles bulky paper lanterns adorned with decorative stripes. There is a small, spherical juicy green fruit inside a green bag. The harvest takes place, depending on the purpose for which you intend to use the fruit, in late summer or early autumn. The unripe, sour berries can be used to prepare a delicious Mexican sauce salsa verde , canned and pickled in vinegar. The ripe fruit have a sweet and sour taste with a noticeable tomato note and can be served as a savoury snack, as a garnishing of main courses, an ingredient in salads, vegetable cocktails and soups or an addition to sandwiches or desserts. They are rich in vitamin C, minerals and fibre.

Tomatillo seeds should be sown in early spring in greenhouses or indoors into multi-pots or small individual seedling pots. Transfer the seedlings to the field after May 15. The plant prefers sunny positions with well-drained, light, humus-rich soil. It will look charming when you let it climb upon a net or a pergola. This creeper will effectively cover the less representative parts of garden architecture and will attract attention with its large, sunny yellow flowers and charming fruit lanterns. One plant produces 50-100 fruit on average.

Each package contains 0.5 gram of the tomatillo seeds. The growing instructions and the sow-by date can be found in the packaging information.

• Use: unripe fruit - salsa verde, canning, pickling; ripe fruit - snack, side dish, salads, vegetable cocktails, soups, sandwiches, desserts
• Harvest time: late summer, early autumn
• Growth form: climbing
• Flower colour: yellow
• Vegetation form: annual
• Site: sunny; well-drained, light, humus-rich soil
• Weight (in grams): 0.5 g