Sechium edule
Chayote
Photo of Sechium edule - Chayote
No photo for the moment for Sechium edule - Chayote
Please note: You must be the owner of the posted photo and it must not be copyrighted.
Things You Must Knows cannot be held responsible for photos posted in violation of this rule
Common Name:
Flower color:
Sun (From 0 to 5):
Water (From 0 to 5):
Maximum temperature:
Minimum temperature:
Maximum height:
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Description
The chayote (Sechium edule), also known as christophene or christophine, cho-cho, mirliton or merleton (Creole/Cajun), chuchu (Brazil), Cidra (Antioquia, Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda regions of Colombia), Guatila (Boyacá and Valle del Cauca regions of Colombia), Centinarja (Malta), Pipinola (Hawaii), pear squash, vegetable pear, chouchoute, choko, güisquil (El Salvador) is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, along with melons, cucumbers and squash.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Blooming
Blooms small flowers, the females are borne late in the growing season. Followed by pale, apple-green fruits, resembling summer squash.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Growth
Chayotes thrive in full sun, and need a long, warm growing season to do best. In areas where freezing temperatures occur, it is best to grow Sechium as an annual. In other places, chayote will grow again in spring after a light winter chilling. When growing chayote, provide the vine with a substrate to climb on, such as a strong trellis or tree. It is also advised to grow more than one plant which will enhance pollination and result in increased fruit production.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Planting
Buy a Chayote fruit in fall and allow it to sprout in a cupboard or other dark, dry location. In climates with mild winters, plant the sprouting seed/fruit in the soil in winter. In climates where the soil freezes, plant in a large pot indoors or where it can be protected from the cold. Plant the seed/fruit with the sprout side down on a slant, where the narrow side of the fruit is barely emerging from the top of the soil.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Pest
Aphids can cause problems. Pick them off or hose them off with water.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Interesting facts
Chayote was domesticated by the Aztecs in the cool mountains of Central America. Now, it is cultivated in almost all tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Sechium is grown primarily for its fruits that contain within them a single seed. The seed is also edible.
Chayote (Sechium edule) - Soil and irrigation
Does best in soils that are rich in organic matter. Water liberally during the growing season.
