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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29 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Chokos are a warm temperate to tropical plant, they could probably be grown in colder climates in a green house. Once they get going they might be alright outside on cool climates, warmth and some moisture is good to get them going!.
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21 Aug 14, Louis (Australia - temperate climate)
I just plant in the garden and it shoots when it wants. Bury an inch or just push the top into the soil a little.
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09 May 13, mary irvin (Australia - temperate climate)
when the vine is finished fruiting do we cut the vine bach
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29 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Depends, if it is cool and the plant seems to be dormant, and it is going into winter, the leaves are getting old and dying, in other words, the vines are dying, yes, strip them back, the plant will go into dormancy for the winter, but only cut back carefully to the stump, or failing that about 5cm from the ground.
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19 Apr 13, LAVERNE (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Does choko need lots of sun and does the seed go right under the soil with the sprout above the soil?
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03 May 13, Kym (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can plant the whole thing except for the sprout but also just leave the fruit on the surface and it will still grow. I think they do best left to their own devices as far as fertiliser etc though I do water mine if its dry
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21 Jan 13, Barb (Australia - tropical climate)
How do I get my choko vine to flower?
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17 Jan 13, wendy (Australia - temperate climate)
Greek-Australian Salad! Feta cheese, diced, lots of chopped tomatoes, olives, and (instead od cucumbers, they don't grow for me) lightly cooked cubes of choko - olive oil & lemon dressing!
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05 Jan 13, sadie (Australia - arid climate)
Each time I've grown chokos from fruit they grow well but then before flowering die off Any advice???? Mind you I did try to move them from pot to soil...is that it?
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29 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, all plants know when their environment has been changed, and they know when they've left the confines of a pot and given "free-range" in the soil, if the choko didn't flower/fruit after transplanting, that is probably because
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Showing 151 - 160 of 221 comments
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You can try - the times here are only a guide - they are not perfect all the time - if it doesn't work plant earlier next time. An idea is to buy a choko a couple of months earlier than planting - put it down the bottom of the pantry in the cool dark place. It will probably start to shoot after awhile. Come Dec plant it in the soil.

- Mike

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