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
                P P P  

(Best months for growing Choko/Chayote in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant tubers
  • 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

26 Jul 22, Nori (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
When do I start cutting down the plant. Is it during winter season? Tks
27 Jul 22, Julie Pannell (Australia - temperate climate)
Cut back the vines to about 12 inches above ground after the last choko has been picked, closer to the end of winter. They will have very little growth for ages and then grow again when the time is right. The leaves can be dead at the beginning of vines but still keep fruit growing at the ends. They fruit for many months.
17 May 22, Brian (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you Chris, the feedback I received has given me advice different to what I have been doing with Chokos. I will have to follow up when I know of availability of fruit so that I can purchase them and try again.
15 May 22, Brian Wood (Australia - temperate climate)
Wanting to get Choko fruit for planting in Broken Hill. Not certain when or where to purchase can you help? Would like to talk to NAFISA whose Dec.11 comments could be interesting as it looks as if they also reside in BROKEN HILL.
21 Apr 22, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
I grew a choko in Melbourne. The plant lived for 3. years. I planted the sprouted fruit on its side never fed it. Had massed and masses of chokos. It died down late winter and sprouted the following year. It grew 20 feet into trees. Was in a very sheltered shady position. Not a warm spot but no frost. I have friends who have grown massive chokos here in our cool temperate climate. It doesn’t like frosts. I can’t imagine a choko in any kind of pot
19 Apr 22, Marlene (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have been given a couple of chokos and I'd like to grow a vine, maybe in my vegepod or else, in a large pot. I believe the fruit will shoot, when left for a while. I'm not even sure which end of the fruit the shoot will come from and do, I place the whole fruit into the well-nourished soil or just part of it. Thank you.
21 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant Dec for your climate zone. Leave one in your pantry and it will start shooting, then plant out. The end from where it attached to the vine when growing.
06 Apr 22, Tim (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I live in Rotorua and planted a choko seedling 3 years ago in a north-facing spot that gets lots of sun and warmth in summer, and where the vines can grow up over and along the deck railings. (This year it has 'taken over', climbing up the old cable of a TV aerial!) Each year it has grown bigger, and this year it has produced a lot of flowers, but these are all male! The cold weather will be here soon, and the top growth will get killed back by the first frosts. I'm thinking that it's a waste of space and the growing season here too short for any fruits to develop. Is there anyone in the Central North Island who has had any success with chokos outdoors, or should I dig it out and use the prime sunny location for something else?
20 Apr 22, Tira Avery (Australia - temperate climate)
Victoria, Australia. We started to grow choko this year as we just learnt that chokos can be a perennial (dying back in winter) here in Victoria. Thai people eat both its young tips and leaves as well as its fruit.
09 Apr 22, Nadege (Australia - arid climate)
Hi there It's always a tough decision to take down a beautiful, healthy plant. If you have something else lined up for the spot then take it down with gratitude and put it in the compost where the nutrients can be recycled. I find that always helps me to do it with this knowledge in mind. Otherwise, if you like it and have nothing else for that spot, keep it and see how it turns out.
Showing 11 - 20 of 224 comments

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