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
  • Choko (cayote) on vine

Choko is only suitable for warmer climates but frequent hot nights will slow flowering. Fruit production is highest when night temperatures range from 59 - 68 F (15 - 20 C). Plant in a warm, unused corner of the garden. Leave the shoot sticking out of the ground and it will take off. Choko needs a long growing season, about 4 - 6 months but in that time it will spread and can be useful to cover old sheds or fences!

An average household would need one or two plants.

Leaves rather like cucumber and some prickles on the fruit. Some variation in fruit, with lighter green and few prickles depending on variety. The differences seem to be between countries eg. USA, Australia, Malta.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Choko/Chayote

Chokos can be peeled and chopped to use in stews, soup or as a stir fry vegetable.
Cooked or raw, it has a very mild flavour and is commonly served with seasonings eg. salt, butter and pepper or in a dish with other vegetables and/or flavourings. It can also be boiled, stuffed, mashed or pickled.

Your comments and tips

26 Jul 10, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The info about planting is on the choko page. Click on the Vegetables and Herbs tab and then click on Choko .
13 Dec 10, Scott (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can tips of vines be eaten, as stir-fried or?... Thanks for your help with this.
27 Apr 11, hennie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
At what time of year cN the choko be planted ? Must it be planted in an ater with direct sun ?
11 Jun 13, Orlando (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where can I get choko seeds or plant?
22 May 18, Angie Tan De Souza (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I had planted my Choko Plant in end of 2016. Got a few melons in 2017 and quite a number of them in 2018. Of course it have flowers and melon only during warmer season. apparently there are a few new shoots are growing from the plant, so I would appreciate if someone can let me know how long does a choke plant can grow? Thanks and regards.
28 Jul 18, Jenelyn (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Choko is perennial plant, it will keep growing but to the very cold places mostly died. If you can protect it from frost it will come out again when weather is warm enough.
10 Aug 19, David (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
When to prune choko vine? Have got some healthy fruits from 1st plant and the vine seems to be weathering now. Have been advised to trim it down to the ground. Any advice please?
14 Aug 19, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
After the fruiting season, cut back the choko vines to four or five short vines to grow for the next season. Chokos are best picked when they are young, because they are more tender and can be eaten with their skin on.May 3, 2019.
01 Sep 21, Johnny Leech (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Will choko grow in a cold area in North Canterbury
07 Sep 21, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
No, they need warm weather by the look of it.
Showing 1 - 10 of 21 comments

Can tips of vines be eaten, as stir-fried or?... Thanks for your help with this.

- Scott

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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