====== 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:choko1.JPG?200|}}| {{ :wiki:choko2.JPG?200|}}| {{ :wiki:?200|}}| 
 ===== 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.  
 ===== Tags ===== 
{{tag>Cucurbitales Cucurbitaceae Sechium Choko (Chayote) Perennial  Shade Vegetable Full_sun Ground }}