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

25 Jan 24, Tania (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Michael, just wondering if your daughter managed to resolve her food intolerances? I have some information which may help her greatly! Feel free to get in touch. Regards, Tania
13 Dec 10, Scott (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can tips of vines be eaten, as stir-fried or?... Thanks for your help with this.
18 Apr 11, Shelly (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a choko vine that is giving me some great choko's however at one end of the vine most of the chokos appear to getting stung or diseased as they have a small dark spots and slightly deformed, could you please enlighten me on this problem. I find it very strange that it is only happening in one area of the vine. Looking forward to your reply, thankyou!
27 Apr 11, hennie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
At what time of year cN the choko be planted ? Must it be planted in an ater with direct sun ?
02 Jul 11, Graham Turner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I recently (June '11) bought a couple of nice chocos to plant next summer. How do I store these without them going rotten? Do they need to be stored in the dark or can they be kept in a basket in my shed?
30 Jul 11, jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I aquired a choko about 8 weeks ago with the shoot coming out already - planted it in a pot, full sun, and now it is an 8 inch vine. May be a bit cool for it but seems to be working.
06 Sep 11, Mick (Australia - temperate climate)
chokos are a great tasting and versatile fruit/vegie. You can also use the first 75cm from the tip of the growng vine as steamed greens, just add a bit of cocconut cream or milk. Just peal off the tendrils that the vine uses to grip onto structure. Realy tasty
02 Oct 11, Shelly (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Last season we had an abundance of choko's. Use choko's as a replacement for apple pie. Cook choko as you would if stewing apples, great for apple crumble and apple pie. Choko's were often used this way during the war when apples were not available or too expensive. Try it you won't know the difference!!!
15 Oct 11, mario sanchez (Australia - temperate climate)
how can i grow choko in the middle of the winter in the area of adelaide hills
19 Dec 11, TRUDY (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Can anyone give me a recipe for choko pie as a desert. I have chokos growing madly on my vine and i am trying to think of different way to cook these great veges. Thanks Trudy
Showing 11 - 20 of 270 comments

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.

- Tira Avery

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