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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
28 May 12, Laura (Australia - temperate climate)
I also have two sprouting chokoes.Do I keep them and if there still alright, plant them in the warmer months?
Reply or Post a new comment
22 May 12, june (Australia - temperate climate)
Have some chokos that were picked very late and are shooting. Does the whole choko go into the ground with the shoot sticking up or do is there something else that must be completed first? Thanks all.
Reply or Post a new comment
19 May 12, richard (Australia - temperate climate)
You don't need to peel chokos before cooking. Wash them (light scrub) Cut them into 4 long ways, Cut out the white core, Boil or microwavewith a little salt and eat them directly off the skin. Yum! If you really want to spoil your waist line add butter, salt & pepper, Yum Yumm!
Reply or Post a new comment
17 May 12, Mike n Lucy (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
We are now growing chouchou in a temporary greenhouse in Bexley in Kent. It came from the stone of the fruit and is growing like crazy with a bit of fleece netting over it to keep it warm. The fruit makes a fantastic juice esepcially when mixed with a smidge of orange juice. The juice is used in Brazil as a natural remedy to help lower blood pressure. It sure does seem to work.
Reply or Post a new comment
12 May 12, John R (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all I read and hear is buy and plant the choko,but from may till september how do I keep or store my choko,its sprouting now,John
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Apr 12, nazmul (Australia - tropical climate)
i have planted a choko plant 2 month ago.But its growth is not good..could u advice me plz.
Reply or Post a new comment
10 Apr 12, john (Australia - temperate climate)
How many seasons will one plant on a vine last
Reply or Post a new comment
02 May 12, Tina (Australia - temperate climate)
I have choko plants in my backyard for 4 years now. Each year the plants will die out around July and re grow on late October.
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Apr 12, Bails (Australia - temperate climate)
HI every body, My new choko vine is pumping along great, but have noticed with the first crop the little ones r droping off. Any suggestions out there. Oh yea they do make a great pie yum!!!!!!! .
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Apr 12, Jo Webster (Australia - temperate climate)
Is there special fertilizers that go on chokos as some of our fruit are growing deformed?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 221 - 230 of 270 comments
See comments for all plants

I see you are in a cool mountain climate and want to grow choko's. This challenge would be affected by how many frost-free months you have. I have seen them in Sydney 12 metres (40') up in a gum tree and have grown them in Bairnsdale on the South Coast of Victoria where they covered a shed. It's worth the challenge. Buy one or two choko's from a fruit shop and keep them inside on a bench until they start to sprout then plant the whole choko in a pot with the sprout base just under the soil. Keep them inside until all risks of frost are over. Select a spot in the garden that gets the maximum amount of sun for the day. Against a North or North-East facing wall or fence would be ideal. Dig a good sized hole and add horse or poultry manure in the bottom then cover that with soil. As the manure rots it will generate heat which will help get the choko growing and also provide fertiliser when the roots get down. Some aluminium foil or a piece of builders insulation fixed behind it will reflect heat and help as well. You will have to hope for a long hot summer to get chokos for harvest but it won't have cost you a lot if it doesn't work. Choko vines die back in the winter so you could give it a good blanket of hay or straw to protect the root from frost and hopefully a better season next year. All the best, let us know how you go.

- Jack

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.