Tomatillos and Mexican Oregano

Can you grow these here in the summer? Anyone try it or know where to get the plants?

Tomatillos--definitely and in abundance. This is always one of the best yielding plants in my various gardens. Grows easily in both a large pot and a raised bed. I've done both the traditional green and the purple (which become green when you cook them --I haven't done a side by side to determine the difference) I highly recommend planting them and have never had difficulty finding them. If you do, let me know.

Mexican oregano--I must admit, never thought about it--I've grown greek and italian but can't ever really tell the difference. To me, oregano is oregano...basil, thyme, mint--all have interesting variations--never really seen any in oregano but maybe I'm missing something that others can educate us both about.

They are two different plants: Mexican oregano is Lippia graveolens and "regular" oregano (Italian or Greek oregano) is Origanum vulgare.

Regarding tomatillos, be sure to plant more than one. Last summer we had a single, huge tomatillo bush with hundreds of blossoms, but no tomatillos.

Definitely grow tomatillos. They'll be tastier and sweeter if you let then get riper (but seedier). They will reseed if you let them drop fruit, and once they're established they are quite hardy.

Thanks everyone. I will look for them and put a few plants in. I will scout out the oregano too but maybe will just buy it.

I grew Mexican oregano a couple of years ago. Easy to grow, but Spice House has spoiled me for their ground treatment, without myriad sticks and stems. It's a weedy, unattractive plant, not pretty like any of the Italian or Greek varieties, so given that, I wouldn't bother again. Save the room for something that you either can't buy (like papalo) or that is just awful dried (like epazote).

I had the same experience with fruitless tomatillos a couple of years ago - and I had more than one plant. Very odd. They are HUGE, ungainly things, and again, given that tomatillos are dirt-cheap in at local Mexican markets, I wouldn't bother again. I didn't see enough of a flavor difference when I did have success growing them some years ago.

good advice sundevilpeg

We grew tomatillos in our tomato garden and the former really took over. Plus it reseeded and we had an abundant crop the next year. We finally got it all out. So be careful-it is really fast growning and pretty invasive.

I got to the Evanston market a bit late (noon-ish) this past week, and Teresa (of the Henry's Farm group, not to make it sound corporate!) told me that I had not only missed the available papalo plants, but that she probably wouldn't be bringing any with her this week, either! So if you see an interesting plant, be it an offbeat herb, chile, or obscure tomato, go ahead and buy it. This is the end of the season for plant starts, and you could end up getting hosed!

Gethsemane has both plants in stock.
Note that Mexican oregano is an annual plant around here.

boudreaulicious wrote:Mexican oregano--I must admit, never thought about it--I've grown greek and italian but can't ever really tell the difference. To me, oregano is oregano...basil, thyme, mint--all have interesting variations--never really seen any in oregano but maybe I'm missing something that others can educate us both about.

I planted spicy oregano last year and it's definitely distinctive. Both of my plants came back this year and are bushier now than they were at the end of the year last year.

My wife and I got a tomatillo seedling plant this year when we were making the rounds for tomatoes, peppers, greens and herbs. Here's a picture I just took of it


Tomatillo plant in center (within cage) with a cherry tomato plant staked to the left, and chile pepper plants to the right.

We both can't believe how crazy-big it's grown (over 4ft high), and like others have stated it has hundreds of flowers but hasn't started fruiting yet. Some of the flowers have dropped so we may see them sprout up next year too...stay tuned on whether or not we get some actual tomatillos!