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Physalis ixocarpa - Brot.

Common Name Tomatillo
Family Solanaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards All parts of the plant, except the fruit, are poisonous[19, 65].
Habitats Waste places[43].
Range Southern and Central N. America as far north as southern Quebec.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Physalis ixocarpa Tomatillo


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Abrahami
Physalis ixocarpa Tomatillo
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Carstor

 

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Summary

UPDATE: Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. is a synonym of Physalis philadelphica Lam


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Physalis ixocarpa is a ANNUAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

P. aequata. Jacq.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[3, 38, 61]. The fruit is a berry that is 2.5cm or more in diameter[200]. When not fully ripe, the fruit can be cooked and used in curries, sauces, soups, stews etc[183]. A delicious flavouring when used like a tomato and added to soups, stews etc[K]. The fully ripe fruit is sweeter and can be eaten out of hand, added to salads or used in pies, preserves etc[183]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten. The fruit can be stored for up to a year if picked before they are fully ripe and left inside their calyx.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[200]. Prefers a rich light soil[33, 38]. Tolerates hot dry weather[160]. One report suggests that the plant is a perennial but, if this is true, it is not winter hardy in Britain though it can be cultivated as an annual for its edible fruit in much the same way that tomatoes are grown[34]. There are some named varieties[183]. Some botanists unite this species with P. philadelphica[50], saying that it arose from P. philadelphica through cultivation. A slow growing plant[160]. Insect resistant[160].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[170].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico (Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Guatemala, El Salvador

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Physalis acutifoliaSharp-Leaf Ground CherryAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHSNM200
Physalis alkekengiWinter Cherry, Strawberry groundcherry,Ground Cherry, Chinese LanternPerennial0.3 6-9 FLMHSNM22 
Physalis alkekengi franchetiiWinter CherryPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNM222
Physalis angulataCutleaf Ground CherryAnnual0.8 0-0  LMHSNM310
Physalis angustifoliaCoastal groundcherryPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis arenicolaCypresshead groundcherryPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis carpenteriCarpenter's groundcherryAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis caudellaSouthwestern groundcherryPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis crassifoliaYellow nightshade groundcherryPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHNDM20 
Physalis foetens Annual0.6 -  LMHNM20 
Physalis foetens neomexicana Annual0.6 -  LMHNDM20 
Physalis greenei Annual0.3 -  LMHNDM20 
Physalis hederaefolia cordifoliaGround CherryPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNDM20 
Physalis heterophyllaClammy Ground Cherry, Rowell's groundcherryPerennial0.9 7-10  LMHSNDM310
Physalis lanceolataGround Cherry, Sword groundcherryPerennial0.4 0-0  LMHSNDM21 
Physalis latiphysaBroadleaf groundcherry 0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis macrophysaBladder Ground Cherry, Longleaf groundcherryPerennial1.5 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis minimaSunberry, Pygmy groundcherryAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHSNDM31 
Physalis missouriensisMissouri groundcherryAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis obscura Annual1.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Physalis peruvianaGoldenberry, Peruvian groundcherryPerennial1.2 10-12  LMHSNM510
Physalis philadelphicaWild Tomatillo, Mexican groundcherryAnnual0.6 6-9  LMHSNM41 
Physalis pruinosaStrawberry TomatoAnnual0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM30 
Physalis pubescensGround Cherry, Husk tomatoAnnual0.5 10-12  LMHSNDM410
Physalis pumilaPrairie Ground Cherry, Dwarf groundcherryPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis subglabrataLongleaf groundcherryPerennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNDM20 
Physalis variovestitaField groundcherry 0.0 0-0  LMHNM20 
Physalis virginianaVirginia Ground CherryPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNM210
Physalis virginiana sonorae Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNDM20 
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Brot.

Botanical References

43170200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

d   Thu Jul 27 2006

i;m growing these but fruits drop off after flowering, i'm confused! if anyone has any tips i'd resally like to know where i'm going wrong.

   May 8 2011 12:00AM

I grow them in with tomatoes in the cold greenhouse in Manchester, UK and have been growing them for about 15 years. I train the (branching) stems to wires so I end up with a big bush (I don't side-shoot them like the cordon tomatoes). I grow a few more outside where there is some yield on smaller plants. Tomatillo in Spanish means "little tomato" - in Mexico these are "tomates" while what we can tomatoes are "jitomates". They sell them in the market with the husks off and they grow a good deal bigger than mine (golf ball rather than chestnut sized. In Mexico they are an essential ingredient of salsa verde ("green sauce") made from by stewing chopped tomatillos, coriander leaf, onion, chilli and sugar. Try it on a maize (or if you must wheat) tortilla with a fried egg on top - huevos rancheros. They store on the kitchen worktop in their husks until they are all used, about the end of January, so they are a winter source of vitamin C (I suppose but I don't know how much it deteriorates in storage) - and they save buying imported or tinned tomatoes since they are used in much the same way in sauces, curries etc. But they have their own distinctive taste and texture - once acquired it is irresistible. But it is possible to make a passable salsa verde using gooseberries instead.

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