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

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25 Nov 21, Melinda (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Plant the whole fruit in a place where a massive amount of leafy vines can trellis up and over (we plant this in May here)... even a bottomless 18" deep drum full of compost/well drained rich soil will work quite well but definitely plant it once and let it go. It harvests here quite heavily right at fall and puts on massive leafy vines with MANY fruit from only one single squash planted. It is quite nice to have for a summer tasting versatile squash that is a heavy producer in the fall after zucchini and yellow crookneck are long gone from squash bug damage.
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03 Jun 15, Luca (Australia - temperate climate)
When planting choko in the pot do I need to plant two together or one is enough?
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19 Sep 15, Kerri (Australia - temperate climate)
Just one
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01 Jun 15, Jason Rosa (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Beaudesert South East Queensland and am wonderind when should I plant my choko plant as I have 2 that have sprouted now and if they will last till planting time thank you
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10 Jun 15, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mycokos are almost bullet proof, I have planted them at odd times of year and they dont mind. Just put them in in a shallow hole and jump back!
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22 May 15, paula (Australia - tropical climate)
I am planting now and wondering if they like wet soil as I had a passionfruit in the same spot and didn't do that well due to wet feet
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29 Apr 15, Ren (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just found this choko vine growing up the back of my shed t much amazement as nothing was planted there the summer weather has gone and there are a few of them on there a decent looking size how do i take them off just pluck like a lemon and should i cut it back now or let it run wild as i quite like the vines very intersting and it seems t have a mind of its own...
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06 May 15, Kelly (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I just pick them off like you would a tomato I take what I need from my mils plant, the younger ones are nicer
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09 Apr 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
i have just purchased chokoes for pickling and found that they are light brown in side.. are they suitable to pickle. i think they have been in cold storage /
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17 Jan 15, D JAMES (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I take the first few cm of the new growth tendrils wash and eat like that no cooking yum
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Showing 171 - 180 of 267 comments
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Cut back the vines to about 12 inches above ground after the last choko has been picked, closer to the end of winter. They will have very little growth for ages and then grow again when the time is right. The leaves can be dead at the beginning of vines but still keep fruit growing at the ends. They fruit for many months.

- Julie Pannell

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