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

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22 May 20, Leila (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Hi, I have chayote in a raise bed garden and i used miracle grow garden soil, they are looking pretty healthy last month, but for the past 2 weeks i noticed that their leaves are turning yellow and does not look as healthy as last month anymore. what seem to be the problem?
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31 Oct 16, robert rowen (Australia - tropical climate)
can you freeze peeled choko for chips or baking thankyou
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18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I haven't tried it but would imagine it would thaw out soggy because of its high water content. Frozen Choko would be ideal to use in soup though. Chop it smll enough first.
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03 Oct 16, Sofie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in tassie, but live on the east coast. I'm really wanting to get some chokos. Please help, thanks
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08 Oct 16, Ben (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Salamanca Fruit Market often have them if you happen to be in Hobart.
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04 Oct 16, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can plant any chokos you get from the supermarket. We see them in Coles all the time.
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13 Sep 16, Raina Stevens (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been unable to find chayote (what we know as choko.) It's not available in my local stores. I remember it used to grow all over the place 20 years ago. Would you believe that I have found it overseas and have paid about $13AUD for one. If I recall correctly, the new plants grow from the whole uncut or unbroken fruit and not from a seed. Back then, nothing was ever said in reference to it's nutritional etc. value. However; after a little research I believe it's worth it's weight in nutrients and fibre.
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17 Mar 17, Raina Stevens (Australia - temperate climate)
re; my previous comment and the overseas purchase of a choko. Not long thereafter and not surprisingly, Customs destroyed it. Would anyone in Australia be willing to sell a couple and post to me. I prefer to make payment with PayPal or by electronic transfer. They are just not available in Bairnsdale.Vic. - East Gippsland. I would greatly appreciate a positive response.
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11 Sep 16, Allison wilkinson (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi a friend has given me a shooting choko in ice cream bucket in soil. I was just wondering how often do I water it & what I can put on it to make it grow. Many Thanks
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24 Aug 16, Josie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where do chokos originally come from.
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Showing 121 - 130 of 224 comments
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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

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