Purple de Milpa Tomatillo, Heirloom Seeds

Purple de Milpa Tomatillo, Heirloom Seeds — The Wild Mexican Cornfield Tomatillo With Sharp, Intense Flavor

Purple de Milpa (Physalis ixocarpa) is the tomatillo that grows wild in Mexican cornfields — a small, intensely flavored heirloom as close to the wild ancestor of the cultivated tomatillo as you can get. Tiny ¾-inch purple-tinged fruits are borne on 3–4-foot tall plants. Unlike most tomatillos, the fruit typically does not burst through the husk when ripe. Some cooks prefer the sharp, intense flavor over other tomatillos — it brings a depth and complexity to salsas and sauces that larger, milder varieties cannot match. 70–90 days from transplant.

Why Grow Purple de Milpa?

• Wild Mexican cornfield heirloom — as close to the wild ancestor as you can grow
• Sharp, intense flavor — preferred by some cooks over milder varieties
• Tiny ¾-inch purple-tinged fruits — distinctive and beautiful
• Does not burst through husk when ripe — unique ripening behavior
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Transplant outdoors after frost danger has passed, spacing plants 24–36 inches apart in full sun. Important: Tomatillos will not self-pollinate — plant two or more plants (any tomatillo variety) for good fruit production. Harvest when fruits fill their husks — note: does not burst through husk when ripe.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.