====== 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 ===== 
Space plants: 100 cm apart  Best when fruit is light green and not more than 6cm long.  Compatible with (can grow beside): Cucumbers  Choko is only suitable for warmer climates but frequent hot nights will slow flowering. Fruit production is highest when night temperatures range from 59-68F (15-20C). 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 but in that time it will spread and can be useful to cover old sheds or fences!  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. The differences seem to be between countries eg USA, Australia, Malta. Culinary hints - 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.  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.
 ===== Tags ===== 
{{tag>Cucurbitales Cucurbitaceae Sechium Choko (Chayote) Perennial  Shade Vegetable Full_sun Ground }}