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 P          

(Best months for growing Choko/Chayote in Australia - 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 15°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 cm 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

31 Dec 12, Maryann (Australia - temperate climate)
Dear Sir/Madam. My Choko vine has only one choko on it. there are no more flowers and it is growing at a prolific rate. Could you please help and let me know why my choko vine is not flowering? Kindest regards Maryann
18 Aug 14, Ian McAllister (Australia - temperate climate)
Lots of leaves and few flowers is usually the symptom of being too kind to any plant. If you give them loads of Nitrogen (e.g. lovely rich compost) the leaves will grow well, but they won't flower well. Last year I had a squash vine growing out of my compost heap. The vine was massive, but I only got about two fruit from it.
05 Nov 12, Claire S (Australia - temperate climate)
Peel,seed, steam in slices, and serve as a side in a cheese sauce. Choko is known for its adaptabilty within other food media. Easy to grow, sometimes accidentally, in south east Queensland. Often over the outside dunny. Ha ha. We eat it nevertheless.
26 Aug 12, JIM PETERSON (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted CHOKO the lst 2 years but hv not had any fruit other freinds in the same area hv hd success what could be the problem
12 Aug 12, bill (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
can I grow choko's in blue mountains,if so,please tell me how,never tried before
14 Nov 12, Brian Larsson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
No problem in cool mountain. My vines have been growing and producing for six years. Each year I cut them back to the ground around September after fruit finish then dump a couple of buckets of wood ash on the stumps and water every couple of weeks. Never used any fertiliser. They are now flourishing again and we will harvest from early to mid next year.
28 Nov 13, Sandy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, In the cooler climates (southern highlands NSW) would I need to cover my vines in winter to protect them from frosts? Also, do you need to have more than one plant to pollinate chokos? My plant is about 12" high now and attaching itself to wire. Thanks
03 May 13, bill wildman (Australia - temperate climate)
hi thank you,they are fruiting now,small,
08 Aug 12, Shipra Gaur (Australia - temperate climate)
Choko can be cooked as a curry as well with tomatoes, potatoes with curry powder and cumin .Also garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
28 Jul 12, simon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When can you plant chokos in dubbo I have one that is sprouting.
Showing 161 - 170 of 221 comments

Best I can suggest is keep a few of the very last ones of this crop. Put them in the pantry. They could take a few months before they start to sprout. The new vine could grow a few feet long by the time you plant. Or say spring time plant them in a 9L bucket or tin etc and grow them there until plant out time.

- Anonymous

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