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 USA - Zone 5a 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

05 Nov 12, Claire S (Australia - temperate climate)
Peel,seed, steam in slices, and serve as a side in a cheese sauce. Choko is known for its adaptabilty within other food media. Easy to grow, sometimes accidentally, in south east Queensland. Often over the outside dunny. Ha ha. We eat it nevertheless.
26 Aug 12, JIM PETERSON (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted CHOKO the lst 2 years but hv not had any fruit other freinds in the same area hv hd success what could be the problem
12 Aug 12, bill (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
can I grow choko's in blue mountains,if so,please tell me how,never tried before
14 Nov 12, Brian Larsson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
No problem in cool mountain. My vines have been growing and producing for six years. Each year I cut them back to the ground around September after fruit finish then dump a couple of buckets of wood ash on the stumps and water every couple of weeks. Never used any fertiliser. They are now flourishing again and we will harvest from early to mid next year.
28 Nov 13, Sandy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, In the cooler climates (southern highlands NSW) would I need to cover my vines in winter to protect them from frosts? Also, do you need to have more than one plant to pollinate chokos? My plant is about 12" high now and attaching itself to wire. Thanks
03 May 13, bill wildman (Australia - temperate climate)
hi thank you,they are fruiting now,small,
08 Aug 12, Shipra Gaur (Australia - temperate climate)
Choko can be cooked as a curry as well with tomatoes, potatoes with curry powder and cumin .Also garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
28 Jul 12, simon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When can you plant chokos in dubbo I have one that is sprouting.
28 Jul 12, Inus Bezuidenhout (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where do I get Chayote (Choko) plants or fruit in South Africa to plant in my garden.
19 Jul 12, George. (Australia - temperate climate)
I'd like to plant 100 metre long trellises of chokos. Could you please give me some advice as to how to go about it? eg. type of trellis, growing conditions, variety, how long does a plant last, yields etc. Do you just use a normal choko for a seedling? Thanks for your help.
Showing 201 - 210 of 267 comments

Our choko vine produces very well, but the majority of the chokos appear to be stung or dimpled. What is doing this, and can we stop it.

- Tamra Stafford

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