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 15°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 cm 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

14 Dec 16, Bret Hemberg (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Paul, Given that choko have little problem with diseases there could be 2 reasons for the yellow leaves. The first is that the soil pH is wrong for it. If the plant has a pH soil outside the range of 6.0 to 6.8, it will not be able to take up the nutrients present in the soil. Which brings me to the second reason; chokos like sandy loamy soil, so while they need good water, it has to be in a medium where the soil doesn't get soggy otherwise it can kill your plant. Your plant may wilt during the day from the heat (through transpiration) but that is not necessarily a bad thing and doesn't mean they are dry, and they will pick up again in the evening. To see if there is a problem with this you can check the soil up to 12 inches from the base of plant. Hope that helps Bret
29 Dec 16, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Bret, i think it's my soil, i will have to add some nutrients. Thanks again for your help. Cheers Paul.
22 May 20, Leila (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Hi, I have chayote in a raise bed garden and i used miracle grow garden soil, they are looking pretty healthy last month, but for the past 2 weeks i noticed that their leaves are turning yellow and does not look as healthy as last month anymore. what seem to be the problem?
31 Oct 16, robert rowen (Australia - tropical climate)
can you freeze peeled choko for chips or baking thankyou
18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I haven't tried it but would imagine it would thaw out soggy because of its high water content. Frozen Choko would be ideal to use in soup though. Chop it smll enough first.
03 Oct 16, Sofie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in tassie, but live on the east coast. I'm really wanting to get some chokos. Please help, thanks
08 Oct 16, Ben (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Salamanca Fruit Market often have them if you happen to be in Hobart.
04 Oct 16, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can plant any chokos you get from the supermarket. We see them in Coles all the time.
13 Sep 16, Raina Stevens (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been unable to find chayote (what we know as choko.) It's not available in my local stores. I remember it used to grow all over the place 20 years ago. Would you believe that I have found it overseas and have paid about $13AUD for one. If I recall correctly, the new plants grow from the whole uncut or unbroken fruit and not from a seed. Back then, nothing was ever said in reference to it's nutritional etc. value. However; after a little research I believe it's worth it's weight in nutrients and fibre.
17 Mar 17, Raina Stevens (Australia - temperate climate)
re; my previous comment and the overseas purchase of a choko. Not long thereafter and not surprisingly, Customs destroyed it. Would anyone in Australia be willing to sell a couple and post to me. I prefer to make payment with PayPal or by electronic transfer. They are just not available in Bairnsdale.Vic. - East Gippsland. I would greatly appreciate a positive response.
Showing 151 - 160 of 269 comments

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