The tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) is a newly developed crop, gaining popularity as a tasty fruit with numerous medicinal properties in Vietnam. For tomatillo long-term cultivation, this study aimed to determine the effects of fertilizer combinations, plant spacing, and pruning on growth, yield, and fruit quality traits of tomatillo grown in An Giang Province, Vietnam. The results revealed the optimal fertilizer formula for promoting plant growth and development and quality traits of tomatillos, including the mineral-organic fertilizer ‘Dau Trau HCMK4,’ NPK (16-16-8+TE), and urea. The plant spacing of 70 cm × 60 cm helped increase stem diameter, leaf length and width, and fruit quality; however, it reduced plant height. Although plant pruning improved fruit diameter and size, it did not significantly affect the growth and yield-related traits. These data will aid in designing experiments and selecting appropriate cultivation methods for tomatillo to achieve higher and better-quality yields.
Tomatillo (P. philadelphica), fertilizer combinations, plant spacing, pruning, growth and development, fruit yield and quality
In cultivating tomatillo (P. philadelphica), the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers considerably enhanced plant growth and development and fruit yield with better quality. Additionally, proper plant spacing and pruning also showed positive effects on plant growth and fruit yield.