Tomatillos are closely related to tomatoes. They do not taste like tomatoes though, they taste like lemons and herbs.
Tomatillos are native to Mexico. Tomatillos are sometimes also called husk tomatoes as they have a dry, leafy husk that wraps the fruit.
People often complain to me that their Tomatillo plants’ leaves are turning yellow. Let’s see why it happens and how to fix it!
Why are my tomatillo leaves turning yellow?
Tomatillo leaves turn yellow mainly due to Overwatering. They may also turn yellow due to Nitrogen deficiency. Magnesium deficiency causes yellow spots on the leaves. In rare cases, they get infected by Psyllid yellows.
Tomatillo leaves turning yellow
Tomatillo leaves may turn yellow due to many reasons. In all honesty, it happens due to poor conditions that affect the plant.
Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the common reasons why leaves yellow. Overwatered plants fail to absorb required nutrients like Nitrogen, so they turn yellow.
If the older leaves yellow and the newer leaves are just fine, it’s due to overwatering. Tomatillos need an inch of water per week.
Cut back on the water and it should recover just fine. Only water once a week, use drip irrigation if possible to measure the amount of water you supply.
Nitrogen Deficiency
Soil that is deficient in Nitrogen causes yellowing of the foliage. You may want to increase the Nitrogen content in the soil if you think it’s the cause.
Overwatering can accentuate Nitrogen Deficiency or make room for it. So, recall what you did recently that could have affected the plant and act accordingly.
If it’s indeed Nitrogen deficiency, add some fertilizer to the soil. Wait for a week and see the results.
Psyllid Yellows
Psyllids are insects that feed on plant juices. These insects are tiny and each species of this insect feeds on one particular plant/few closely related plants.
The yellowing of the foliage seems to be moving upward. Apart from the yellowing of the leaves, the veins may become purple.
Psyllid infection causes abnormalities in the growth of Tomatillos. Older leaves thicken and the bases roll upwards.
Yellow spots on tomatillo leaves
Sometimes you may also see yellow spots on the leaves. The whole leaf may not yellow but yellow spots may appear.
Downy Mildew
Yellow spots on the leaves are not the usual symptoms of Downy Mildew. They are seen at a stage in the Downy Mildew infection.
Downy Mildew can cause yellow bumps on leaves. It doesn’t start with a residue on the bottom of the leaves, symptoms are first seen on the upper side of the leaves.
Magnesium Deficiency
Do you see yellow spots on Tomatillo leaves? It’s probably due to Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficient plants show yellowing and then become necrotic.
The leaves turn yellow between the veins. Magnesium deficiency can be fixed by adding Epsom salts to the affected soil in autumn or winter.
You can expect healthier foliage in the next season after adding Epsom salts to the soil.