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

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07 Sep 21, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
No, they need warm weather by the look of it.
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27 Apr 21, Betty (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
We plan to move within 6 months and I want my choko to come with us. How can I keep a choko fruit so I can plant it in our new garden? I have fruit now. Or what would you advise Thanks? Thanks.
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28 Apr 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
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22 Apr 21, Rowena Flood (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone have choko's growing in tasmania
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29 Apr 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
Very unlikely unless they are in a temperate or subtropical climate.
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05 Feb 21, Sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Would I be able to grow a choko in stanthorpe qld
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10 Feb 21, Karen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
yes, but it will die off in Winter - just trim, leaving root in the ground, cover with straw, and it will shoot up again in spring
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05 Feb 21, SHIRL (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, Can I plant a sprouted choko into a pot/ground in February in Sydney? If not how can keep this to be planted later. Thanks for any advice.
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20 Feb 21, bushgirl (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
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08 Feb 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It says to plant Dec for temperate. If you are on the sub tropical side for weather MAYBE. If you have cooler weather probably not. You can give it a try.
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Showing 41 - 50 of 265 comments
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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.

- Nadege

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