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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15 Jan 21, My Quach (Australia - temperate climate)
Choko leaves become yellow Please advise how to save my choko.
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18 Jan 21, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Water and fertiliser
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26 Nov 20, Luna (Australia - tropical climate)
My choco leaves get burn dueing summer and the fruits become unhealthy . It also upset me because of some yellow beetles around which i always squeezed by hand.
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26 Nov 20, Anonymous (Australia - tropical climate)
By the guide here it is grown during the autumn and winter in the tropics. If you are growing during the summer then you probably need to water it every day. The yellow/orange beetles if they have little black dots on them could be lady beetles. They are good in the garden.
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17 Nov 20, Rob Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a Choko vine. Fruited very well last year. Is starting to produce fruit but they are rotting on the vine. Does anyone have any idea why?
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18 Nov 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Phone an agronomist at an agric stocking/supply company.
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08 Nov 20, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
What causes leaf curl on choko vine.
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09 Nov 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are they receiving enough water?
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24 Oct 20, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought my last one from Coles. I bought the smallest and oldest looking one. Currently the sprout is about 3 inches and I will probably plant it out in a couple of days. It was not organic or anything - just regular off the shelf.
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19 Oct 20, Shez (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The choko you buy in shops used to sprout and you could grow them, in the last couple of years I have bought many and they don’t sprout. I think they must treat them somehow to stop sprouting. You have to find someone who has a vine to get one for growing on, I have been given a pale one, but would like a standard green one, they are hardier plants, the pale one suffers badly from mealy bug and doesn’t give much fruit.
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Showing 51 - 60 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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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