Tomatillo in Zone 11a & 11b
Physalis philadelphica
When to plant tomatillo in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Tomatillo needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Nov 13–Nov 20 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 22–Jan 29 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 28–Apr 4 (~65 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Tomatillo is a tomato relative grown for its tart, green (or purple) fruit, each wrapped in a papery husk. It's a staple of salsa verde and green chili, and it grows a lot like a sprawling, vigorous tomato plant.
How tomatillo fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Tomatillo.
Where to buy tomatillo seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tomatillo" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Tomatillo in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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