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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23 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Trim the plant back after it fruits each year. I had a 600mm high young passionfruit (?) plant grow to over 10 m long in the space of a year. I have just cut 2/3 of it off. The neighbour waters the hell out of her plants on the other side of the fence. I didn't have many fruit but a huge vine.
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25 Aug 19, Gordon (Australia - tropical climate)
Can i grow chokos in Cairns in a pot do i need two ive planted them in a pot using potting mix do i have to water them Thank you
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19 Jul 19, Brian Wood (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in far west NSW and would like to grow choko vines. They do grow here (Broken Hill) as my father grew them successfully. Can you advise me the best way to grow them and where I can purchase fruit, plants or seeds. Would really welcome your advice. Brian Wood.
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22 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy some chokos from a supermarket or grocer and wait until they start sprouting then plant. Grow on a trellis. Look up how to grow on the internet.
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20 Jun 19, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can i buy chayote from
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24 Jun 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy a choko from a fruit and veg shop.
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24 Apr 19, Beverley Prior (Australia - temperate climate)
where can I purchase some choko vines which have been potted or bagged to help me get started. I live on the east coast about 100 klms from sydney but have the room to grow a healthy vine with perhaps cucumbers. Thank You
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21 May 19, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Just buy a couple of chokos from the green grocer. Keep them in warm shade until they sprout then half bury them. Mine did much better in clay than sand.
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19 Jan 19, Gordon (Australia - tropical climate)
Can you grow chokos in cairns
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22 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to the choko page and find out.
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Showing 61 - 70 of 224 comments
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Surprisingly the plants are still strong over most of them, with the larger chokos continuing to grow, although certainly slower than six or eight weeks ago and many with imperfections over their outer layer. Once they get to the size of an egg they do grow much faster although many of the tiny ones that did get a start have got to around two cm long and dropped. So far we've only had two nights that hit dead on 0'C so if frosty nights can be avoided it looks like they will keep going. The first night that does have a bad frost and I'll be stripping the two plants of all chokos whatever the size.

- Phil

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