Northern Queensland Permaculture

Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share

Choko (Chayote)

Botanical Information

Botanical Information
Order Cucurbitales
Family Cucurbitaceae
Genus Sechium
Common Name Choko (Chayote)
Species S. edule

Maturity days

  • 120

Planting Months

Planting months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
X X X X

Permaculture uses

Permaculture uses
Usage 1 Usage 2 Usage 3
Shade Vegetable

Growing condition comments

Growing Condition Comment
Drought Tolerant
Humidity tolerant Yes
Planting area Ground
Sunlight Full_sun

Photos

Photos
wiki

Short comments

Vine. Produces green fruits. Best picked young.

General comments

Ecology & Planting

  • Space plants 100 cm apart
  • Can grow beside Cucumbers

Plant in a warm, unused corner of the garden. Leave the shoot sticking out of the ground and it will take off. Choko needs a long growing season, about 4 - 6 months.

An average household would need one or two plants. Leaves rather like cucumber and some prickles on the fruit. Some variation in fruit, with lighter green and few prickles depending on variety.

To grow choko, can cut bottom off, stand in water and wait for shoots to appear. Then plant in soil to further promote vine growth.

Can be grown from store bought fruit:

  • Cut off the bottom
  • Place in a saucer of water and allow to stand
  • Change the water regularly
  • If mold takes over, throw away
  • When a shoot starts plant in potting mix and keep regularly watered

Uses

During growing will spread and can be useful to cover old sheds, fences or for privacy.

Food

Best when fruit is light green and not more than 6cm long.

Cooking and eating Choko/Chayote Chokos can be peeled and chopped to use in stews, soup or as a stir fry vegetable. Cooked or raw, it has a very mild flavour and is commonly served with seasonings e.g., salt, butter and pepper or in a dish with other vegetables and/or flavourings. It can also be boiled, stuffed, mashed or pickled

Can be used as a filler in pies, like apple pie.

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