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

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22 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy some chokos from a supermarket or grocer and wait until they start sprouting then plant. Grow on a trellis. Look up how to grow on the internet.
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20 Jun 19, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can i buy chayote from
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24 Jun 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy a choko from a fruit and veg shop.
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24 Apr 19, Beverley Prior (Australia - temperate climate)
where can I purchase some choko vines which have been potted or bagged to help me get started. I live on the east coast about 100 klms from sydney but have the room to grow a healthy vine with perhaps cucumbers. Thank You
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21 May 19, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Just buy a couple of chokos from the green grocer. Keep them in warm shade until they sprout then half bury them. Mine did much better in clay than sand.
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19 Jan 19, Gordon (Australia - tropical climate)
Can you grow chokos in cairns
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22 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to the choko page and find out.
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21 Dec 18, Karen M. (USA - Zone 5b climate)
I read about this vegetable/ fruit on another website and was wondering how I can find it to grow here in NE Indiana.
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13 Nov 18, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
New choko plant growing well,lower leaves are good but new leaves are curling on the outer edge. Can you advise, thanks
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15 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A big guess - could be the hot weather. Check in the morning and see if it like this when it is cool.
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Showing 91 - 100 of 270 comments
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My choko died down as usual and is now growing vigorously & has runners 12 - 15 feet long already. Should I cut these back to the base & let it start again in spring of just let it grow? I live in the Northern Rivers, Kyogle, NSW, & have had no frosts reach it so far & doubt if the frost will hit it now. I know if it gets frosted to cut it right down & cover it with mulch, but as it hasn't been frosted, I don't know what to do. I do notice lots of tiny snails on the higher leaves....I put snail bait around the bottom, but what can you do about the high ones that can't be reached to pick off? Any help will be appreciated. Thank you, Donna

- Donna Jo Mcnnes

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