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

06 Sep 11, Mick (Australia - temperate climate)
chokos are a great tasting and versatile fruit/vegie. You can also use the first 75cm from the tip of the growng vine as steamed greens, just add a bit of cocconut cream or milk. Just peal off the tendrils that the vine uses to grip onto structure. Realy tasty
02 Jul 11, Graham Turner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I recently (June '11) bought a couple of nice chocos to plant next summer. How do I store these without them going rotten? Do they need to be stored in the dark or can they be kept in a basket in my shed?
30 Jul 11, jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I aquired a choko about 8 weeks ago with the shoot coming out already - planted it in a pot, full sun, and now it is an 8 inch vine. May be a bit cool for it but seems to be working.
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 ?
18 Apr 11, Shelly (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a choko vine that is giving me some great choko's however at one end of the vine most of the chokos appear to getting stung or diseased as they have a small dark spots and slightly deformed, could you please enlighten me on this problem. I find it very strange that it is only happening in one area of the vine. Looking forward to your reply, thankyou!
13 Dec 10, Scott (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can tips of vines be eaten, as stir-fried or?... Thanks for your help with this.
04 Dec 10, Annie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Chokos - Hi Howard. When I was a young girl in Sydney/Newcastle area we lived on Chokos. They would grow over sheds, fences etc. so I assume that they would tolerate part shade in your area. I have planted (just for experiment) 4 sprouting chokos in Hobart, Tas. but have put them in full sun against a warm brick wall. They have grown about 1 metre so far. Regards Annie
17 Jan 12, michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i was just wondering how you went with the growing of chokos in the Hobart area, as i live here and would like to grow some as we can not find a green grocer that sells them . they all say that they have had them in the past but no longer . We have been told by nutritionist that they would be good for our daughter who has so many in-tolerances it isn't funny. Any help would be great
25 Jan 24, Tania (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Michael, just wondering if your daughter managed to resolve her food intolerances? I have some information which may help her greatly! Feel free to get in touch. Regards, Tania
09 Apr 12, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
if anyone wants awesome green Choko to grow just email me and will send you a sprouter for free (you pay postage) [email protected] use choko as subject line
Showing 251 - 260 of 267 comments

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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