Chayote
Sechium edule
Chayote is a member of the Sechium family. Its botanical name is Sechium edule.
Chayote is a tuberous rooted perennial that climbs. Vines can grow 40 feet (12 meters) or higher. Leaves are broadly triangulate, about 5-8 in (12-20 cm) long, with shallow lobes. The fruit is pale green and pear-shaped, about 6 in (15 cm) long. It hangs from the vines on thin stems.
The fruit is thick and fleshy, a little crisp, and contains a single large, soft-hulled seed which is eaten right along with the flesh. Each vine can produce 50 or more fruits per season.
It is an edible vegetable and is treated mainly as a perennial, so it grows best over a period of time (3 years and greater). Normally grows with a viny habit. This plant tends to bloom in early summer, followed by first harvests in mid summer.Chayote is normally quite a low maintenance plant and is normally very easy to grow - great for beginner gardeners!
This plant info is provided by the myfolia gardener's wiki. All details about Chayote have been kindly provided by our members.
How to grow Chayote
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Medium
Growing Chayote from seed
Leave mature fruit indoors in a cool, dry place until it starts to form a shoot.
Transplanting Chayote
Plant shooting fruit at an angle with the shooting end pointing downwards and the top just at or slightly above soil level.
Harvesting Chayote
Pick the fruit when pale green and about 5cm (2inches) in length. Larger, older fruit have less flavour.
Seed Saving Chayote
The centre of the choko fruit is a seed. This is the part that will shoot if the harvested fruit is kept indoors.
Companion plants for Chayote
These plants have been known to grow well alongside Chayote so consider planting:
Repellent plants for Chayote
These plants will not grow well with Chayote so avoid planting these within close proximity:
Common Chayote problems
These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Chayote plants:
Chayote Folklore & Trivia
At one time there was a rumor afloat in Australia that McDonald’s was making its apple pies from chayote rather than apples. It appears that this wasn’t the case—chayote were more expensive at the time than apples. McDonald’s responded by emphasizing that this pies were made from real Granny Smith apples.
Other names for Chayote
Mirliton, Christophine, Chow-chow, Choko, Chocko, Chouchou, Cidra, Gayota, Vegetable pear, Squash
Chayote care instructions
How long does Chayote take to grow?
Footnotes
Chayote Forums
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