OK, boys and girls, it’s time once again for another helpful Don’t Do What Donnie Don’t Does. Garden version this time.
Don’t plant only one tomatillo plant in your garden. Because apparently, they tend to need at least one other friend to cross-fertilize with. I say ‘tend to’ because it isn’t always the case. According to this, sometimes a plant will have the right genes for self-fertilization, in which case you’ll be fine with just one plant. Some of the time, though, it won’t have the right genes and you will therefore need two of them.
What you’ll end up with, if you are unlucky enough to get the kind that does need a friend to pollinate it, is a ton of empty little lanterns, but no fruit. Which is exactly what we have.
Sad.
But at least now we know for next year.
What I’m trying to figure out now, in order to make the most out of this crap situation, is how to string these puppies onto lights or some other equally ridiculous use of my time.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
How cute are those! So, what, they're like just filled with air?
I've been waiting for you to show us your garden and produce – mary, mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Our peppers all did very well, but the tomatoes had some kind of blight so we only got a few edible ones. (I was pulling up one plant that was covered with squishy rotten tomatoes, and they splattered all over me – yuck!)
I have at least one of those valuable lessons in every gardening year!
I was thinking the same thing about the "lanterns". There must be SOME way to make something out of them. Can you dry them and use them for something?
At least you have something green and growing in your garden! I have a pitiful little patio with no dirt in sight, except what blows in from the street…8-(
Linda