Online Catalogue: The Cottage Gardener

The Cottage Gardener Online Catalogue

We have been providing rare and endangered heirloom varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers to gardeners and market growers since 1996. Our online catalogue has over 650 heirloom seed varieties available, in retail packet sizes and bulk amounts. We have one of the most diverse selections of Certified Organic seeds in Canada, and we add to this each year.

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Tomatillos & Ground Cherries

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A Description of Tomatillos & Ground Cherries

History:Tomatillos and ground cherries are cousins, although different species, and originated in Central and South America. Both had made their way into North American gardens by the mid-1800's and were much beloved by the Pennsylvania Dutch in the U.S. in particular. Their fruit is encased in a thin, papery husk which splits when the tomatillo is ripe, or falls off the plant when the ground cherry is ripe. Cultivation: Easy to grow. Start indoors at the same time as tomatoes, sowing the seed on the surface of soil-less mix and lightly covering it. Transplant to the garden when temperatures and the soil have fully warmed, 3-4' apart. Companions: onions, chives, leeks, borage, marigolds, basil.
Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry

Orange; Certified Organic
(70 days) Ground cherries have been cultivated in North America since the 17th C and were staples in the cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Aunt Molly's, an orange ground cherry, can be traced back to the Walter Schell seed company in the 1920's. With a distinctive taste reminiscent of tangerines, it is considered to be one of the best-tasting cultivars. Growing to 2' and spreading to 4', the plants produce copious amounts of fruit encased in papery husks. The fruit is ripe when the husk drops off the plant. Excellent in soups, sauces and pies, but we like them best fresh. Easy to grow.
1. Pkt - 40 seeds: 3.00
De Milpa Tomatillo

Purple; Certified Organic
70 days. This Mexican heirloom tomatillo still grows wild in Mexico. The small - medium sized fruits are a beautiful green blushed with purple. They will keep for several weeks after picking and are great for salsa.
Verde Tomatillo

Green; Certified Organic
90 days. This variety stays green when ripe, with a husk that turns brown. Very flavourful, they have a sweet yet sharp flavour and are wonderful eaten fresh as a garnish, grilled or in salsa. Fruits are approx. 1" in size.