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

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

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