Growing Choko/Chayote, also Chayote squash, christophene, chouchou, mirliton

Sechium edule : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Easy to grow. Plant whole mature fruit when one produces a shoot at one end.. Best planted at soil temperatures between 59°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 39 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-25 weeks. Best when fruit is light green and not more than 6 cm long.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cucumbers

Your comments and tips

02 Dec 14, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew 5 plants about 2years goo I think it was, and had a great run of fruit, ten 4 of the plant died. I have one left but very little fruit has grown. I am wondering if I sprayed grass killer near them if that was the cause. I am very careful when spraying, I normally spray when there is no wind so that the spray dose not contaminate other areas. I thought that choco's were easy to grow, do they need a lot of water?
21 Oct 14, pam stacker (Australia - temperate climate)
do you need more than one choko plant I have 1 but did not get any flowers it has now started to shoot again is there anything special I should do thanks
29 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Chokos might not bear fruit the first year, it needs to be big enough to sustain producing fruit and it knows when it is right, it senses this two way I think, the first is it has healthy rhizomes to sustain it through the winter to grow again in spring, as, the foliage dies off in cool climates in autumn/winter. The second is an abundance of moisture and food. they will grow in fairly poor soil, if you need a planting one let me know and I see what I can do!
29 Oct 14, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planting chokos now for 3 years and you would need to add an all round manure next to base and water well. I clip the plant if too many shoots appear, prefer to keep 2-3 to trail. Water regularly depending if its too hot and they don't seem to mind having wet feet.
20 Aug 14, Latha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am confused about how to get the chokos to sprout. Should I leave it on a warm sunny spot, like window still, or put them in a dark spot like deep burried in my kitchen pantry?. Please answer as different websites and videos give different information. Many thanks.
29 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Chokos are a warm temperate to tropical plant, they could probably be grown in colder climates in a green house. Once they get going they might be alright outside on cool climates, warmth and some moisture is good to get them going!.
21 Aug 14, Louis (Australia - temperate climate)
I just plant in the garden and it shoots when it wants. Bury an inch or just push the top into the soil a little.
05 Apr 14, jeanette (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
what is the food value of this plant?
11 Jun 13, Orlando (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where can I get choko seeds or plant?
09 May 13, mary irvin (Australia - temperate climate)
when the vine is finished fruiting do we cut the vine bach
Showing 181 - 190 of 267 comments

Last season we had an abundance of choko's. Use choko's as a replacement for apple pie. Cook choko as you would if stewing apples, great for apple crumble and apple pie. Choko's were often used this way during the war when apples were not available or too expensive. Try it you won't know the difference!!!

- Shelly

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