If you’re looking to grow a slightly more unordinary edible plant then chayote may be an ideal option for your garden.
There are a few nuances you will want to take into consideration when growing chayote but otherwise this guide will inform you with everything you need to know.
What Is Chayote?
Chayote, which grows on a vine, is classified as a type of squash however is also botanically a close cousin of the cucumber.
Every single part of the chayote is edible and can be used in a variety of ways, which is part of the reason it has become such a staple in South and Central America.
In fact, chayote as a food has been consumed for a very long time, with records indicating the fruit was used, as far back as the mid-1700s.
Chayote is even more versatile than just being consumed as a food.
For example: In India, people make hats and baskets out of chayote. In addition, chayote is also used to feed animals.
Moreover, chayote leaves are said to have medicinal properties and are used to help with high blood pressure and kidney stones.
Lastly, chayote is high in potassium content as well as nutritious.
Choosing The Right Variety
In selecting a chayote variety, it is important to know that two classes exist.
The wild chayote and cultivated chayote found at farmer’s markets and home gardeners.
Wild chayote will usually grow in damp areas like rivers and creeks.
The wild chayote is usually larger, as well as the fruits themselves, which will differ in color, texture, and taste.
The following are the most common chayote varieties that you would like to consider for growing.
- Chayotillo: this variety is very closely related to the common cultivated chayote. It is very robust in terms of disease resistance and just very hard to find.
- Chayote de Caballo: this variety is also alright similar to the common cultivated variety, but sometimes has a pricklier skin, though again it can come with a smooth skin. The advantage to having a chayote de Caballo a longer shelf life than all other varieties of chayote, if you come across it.
- Perulero: this chayote is mainly grown in Guatemala and has a colorful fruit that can vary between yellow and white.
- Cabezo de Chango: this variety is quite rare and can only be found in a very specific part of Mexico. It looks, however, very similar to chayote de Caballo.
Where And When To Plant Chayote
To find success when growing chayote, you want to make sure you find the right spot for it.
Although the plants can be placed in part shade, you won’t generally get as much fruit production. For this reason, it is always best to find a spot in full sun.
You also want to make sure that the soil is just right by being within a pH range of 6.0-6.8.
For soil, you want loose soil with good drainage that is capable of retaining a lot of moisture. Having an abundance of organic matter is very important as well.
From Experience – When planting chayote, you want to make sure you sow the seeds at least four inches down to the ground, six if you can.
If you are putting the fruits into the ground then you want to make sure there is a fair amount of space between them, around ten feet if you can.
Keep in mind that this is a climbing plant, so it will need support but we will talk more about this later.
You also want to be sure that when the fruit starts to grow and mature, it doesn’t come into contact with the soil because it will germinate while still attached causes troubles.
If you are going to plant chayote among other veggies, some good companion plants would be corn, pepper, pumpkin, and squash.
You want to consider what plants you should not plant with chayote as well. Some of those would be mint, snap beans, and celery.
You want to be sure to time your planting to the right time of year as chayote does not want to have frost and prefer the soil to be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
For this reason, you will wait at least three to four weeks after the last frost of the spring.
In general, chayote will do well in tropical or subtropical climates as they do prefer the hotter summers.
Some of the optimally successful areas to be in would be places like Florida or California.
Let’s say that you are in a different location, you can plant the chayote in a pot indoors as it cools.
Planting Chayote From Seed
The easiest method of growing chayote is to plant it from one of its seeds (the fruit) and there would be no question that it is the best option.
Make sure you select a real mature fruit that is uncontaminated and it has a hard (or tough) skin.
If the fruit is starting to rot, it is the wrong option.
Here are the instructions for planting chayote from a seed.
- You will have to wait for the fruit to sprout before planting it. This can take anywhere from three to five weeks so you will need to be patient. Put the fruit in a place that is cool and dry and when it sprouts, let the sprout be at least two inches long before doing the next step.
- Get a container and fill it with organic potting soil. You will make a small hole in the soil at the center of the potting soil, where you will place the fruit.
- Make sure that the sprout is facing up and that the fruit is at a 45 degree angle. Don’t worry about totally covering the chayote, just so long as it is snugly in the soil.
- Put your pot in a bright location that is nice and warm. Be sure to water it thoroughly. You won’t need to add any more water until the top layer of the soil is dry.
- When the plant becomes big enough to transfer into the garden, just remember to use appropriate manure or compost in your soil.
- As we talked about earlier, you will need to give it a lot of space per plant and distance them out at least ten feet apart.
- Just remember that while you can plant the sprouting fruit directly in the ground, don’t do this. It is not the preferred way because the fruit has more chance of rotting when planted directly into the ground.
Chayote Watering Needs
Chayote enjoys warm weather, but it is not drought resistant.
The plant will need plenty of water through the summer, and you will want to pay attention to this detail.
Of course, frequency of watering will depend on how much rain, but in general, two to three times a week is considered a usual amount for the summer season.
When it gets cooler, it should be reduced to only once a week.
Feeding Chayote
For growing chayote, it is important to ensure that the plant gets the proper amount of nutrients. An all-purpose fertilizer with plenty of:
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- and Nitrogen
is the best thing to use.
This matters even more while the plant is becoming established.
It may also be helpful to add some compost to the plant, particularly halfway through the growing season.
Chayote Light Conditions
A chayote should be grown in full sun.
But, in very dry weather the plant may prefer a little shade during the hottest part of the afternoon sun.
In general – six to eight hours of sun a day would be more than enough.
Just remember that the more light the plant receives, the lighter in color the fruit will be.
Plants in part shade will produce darker fruit with a greener color.
Support For Chayote
Chayote is a climbing vine and it grows fairly quickly.
The vines can get extremely long and in some cases, they will grow 39 feet long! This means that the plant will need some good support in the form of a trellis.
However, this is not going to be a freestanding trellis so you’ll need to find something like a fence, wall or other structure for the plant to grow up.
Also, it’s important to pick a trellis that’s tall enough for the plant as this will promote better fruit production.
What’s more – this makes it a lot easier when harvesting. The higher you can trellis it, the less it will come in contact with the ground therefore any fallen fruit won’t germinate while still on the vine.
Are Chayotes Susceptible To Pests Or Disease?
Chayote is a plant that is quite resistant and won’t suffer from many diseases.
However, it is prone to aphid attacks so you’ll want to keep an eye on this.
The best way to control these pests is to pick them off by hand or wash them away with a force of water from your garden hose.
Harvesting Chayote
Typically, the first harvest will be ready approximately 120 to 150 days after the planting of the chayote.
You will know it is ready to be picked when the fruits are between four and six inches long, and they feel slightly tender.
You can remove them from the vine with either pruners or a knife, but take them early enough that the flesh has not started to harden.
After harvesting, you may store your chayote in a refrigerator for approximately one week.
You are also able to freeze chayote, just cut it into cubes, and place it in a good freezer bag. Your chayote will last for almost the entire year.
How To Use Your Chayote Harvest
Many people think that the chayote is only edible as a fruit, but this could not be further from the truth.
You can consume every part of the chayote plant, such as the seeds, leaves, stems and roots.
In some cultures, the leaves and shoots are added to salads and stir fries.
Most people will use the fruit in the same way as potatoes or any other root vegetable.
Simply wash the fruit, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Once you peel the skin, you can use it in a stew.
Another interesting use of chayote fruit is as a substitute for apples in pies if you have a sweet tooth!
Conclusion
Chayote is a remarkable plant because you can harvest and eat them in many different food preparations.
Chayote plants are moderately easy to grow and they will do well with proper care.
However, it does need to be noted that chayote plants grow rapidly and can get really big, you will need to provide them with enough space and support to grow.