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 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

21 Nov 21, Carol (Australia - arid climate)
I have a choko that is starting to shoot. Can I plant this now in Dubbo.
23 Nov 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
The only climate zone they say here for growing choko is sub-tropical. You could try and see what happens.
05 Nov 21, Purry (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Can chayote grow in Calgary, Alberta?
10 Nov 21, Anonymous (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Warm hot weather.
10 Nov 21, Anonymous (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Check the climate zone here for that area.
02 Nov 21, Rosie Spence (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where am I able to get Choko plants or seeds in NZ, I’m finding them difficult to access, thank you in advance
05 Aug 22, Anthony (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
buy a whole choko from the store set aside indoors ( maybe in a fruit bowl ) and it will sprout a vine on its own Then plant the whole thing .. i have a posting becoming available, that will explain the process after that
05 Nov 21, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Buy seeds online or buy a choko and wait until it starts sending out a shoot and then plant.
01 Sep 21, Johnny Leech (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Will choko grow in a cold area in North Canterbury
07 Sep 21, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
No, they need warm weather by the look of it.
Showing 31 - 40 of 263 comments

If you have a warm corner, and can protect it from frost, you may be able to encourage it to grow for a couple of months. The idea is to help it mature enough to over-Winter and sprout again in Spring. Chokos can be temperamental in pots and planting direct in the ground, now, may expose it to being chilled earlier but the temperature in the earth will be more constant. Do not cover the crown of the choko with earth as your choko will rot. Leave top exposed a couple of centimetres and water around your choko, not on it, as this can also cause rot. Once they are established, with healthy leaves, they should withstand the odd over the top watering. They thrive is you have plenty of humus in the soil.

- bushgirl

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