\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Now, place the entire fruit in a pot with the sprout facing upwards out of the soil. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In areas without hard frosts, chayote roots can stay alive through the winter. There have been claims and urban legends that the bodies in a mausoleum in the Colombian town called San Bernardo have mummified due to their diet which was rich in Chayote. Vines will bloom in August or September and be covered with chayotes by September or October. What is a chayote squash, you ask? Set the pot on a propagation heat mat near a bright south-facing or west-facing … Although this will significantly reduce your yield, you will have the ability to move the plants indoors. Kiwi plants are fast growing deciduous vines that prefer warm temperate climates and if given the right conditions will produce an incredibly tasty, edible fruit. Chayote plants need regular water, so never allow the soil to dry out. I have also been fortunate to find the fruit at a Chinese market stall. Chayote can grow as an annual as far north as plant hardiness zone 7. Chayote is mainly susceptible to powdery mildew and a range of pests. The whole chayote fruit is used as a seed to grow the chayote plant, which is pretty fascinating. Native to Mexico, this plant has been introduced to many other countries for its edible fruits, tubers, shoots and leaves. Avoid overwatering and getting water on the leaves, and take care to inspect any new plants you may bring into close vicinity to your chayote vine. Let your vines to grow until the first hard frost damages the leaves. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. After choosing a mature chayote… This article has been viewed 18,796 times. The vegetable pear grower’s first step, then, is to locate a market (try an area with a large Spanish-speaking population) where chayote is sold in late fall. Bright green, spiny, pear-shaped chayote squash may just be a new reliable staple crop for BC coastal gardens. Planting Chayotes: Chayotes are best planted by purchasing a fruit from the store. The plant was very versatile and could produce new fruits every year. All Rights Reserved. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Allow the top of the soil to dry completely before watering again. Tend the vine all summer; it will grow to 30 feet or more before blossoming or setting fruit. If your soil tends towards heavy clay, mix in compost. Set the pot in a warm, sunny place indoors and water it. Ties or cords can cut or damage the growing stem, as it is still soft and fragile. Grow a Climate Change Resilient Garden If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Transplant after the danger of frost has passed. Fertilize your chayote just after planting, and then again periodically. To start a new plant, you need to plant the entire fruit. and digged into the potted soil, found tones for bugs.. more like tiny white wranglers that i believe eating the rotted fruit… or maybe even eat up the root.. Chayote plants are very susceptible to rotting. Vines can grow 6 to 9 metres (20 to 30 feet) in a season, and produce as many as 50 to 100 squash per plant. It is claimed that this plant abounds in cell-regenerative properties. In May, once the weather is well above freezing, plant the squash outside. In zones 8 and warmer, it will overwinter if you cut the vine to ground level and apply heavy mulch. When does a chayote bloom? % of people told us that this article helped them. I know the climate is right as they grow them in the Guatamalan highlands where it can be quite cold. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The fruits have a slightly nutty flavour and a soft texture when cooked, and are high in vitamins, minerals, fibre and many others. How to Grow Vegetables: Chayote. To grow chayote in your garden the first thing you want to do is go to the market and purchase a few. Other names include mirliton (Caribbean), choko, or custard marrow. Buy a chayote fruit. Step 7 To grow a new vine, you need to plant the fruit itself. Avoid multicoloured fruits and white fruits (too old) and those which have excessive bruising or blemishing. Continue to store them in the dark until the sprouts are about 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) long. If possible, choose organic ones. Chayote squash vines grow vigourously and require a sturdy trellis. Want more gardening articles like this one? The seed will sprout from the bottom of the chayote and begin to grow a vine. Grow chayote in loose, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter. This bright green pear-shaped squash has long been cultivated throughout Mexico, Central and South America. Chayote squash sprouts from inside the fruit. In maritime south coast British Columbia, chayote squash is hardy on the vine until early November. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The fruit is 10 to 20 cm long that has deep ridges with coarse wrinkles and pear-like shape. Natural pollinators should naturally pollinate the flowers, but on days where there is little pollination activity, you could hand pollinate them using a soft-bristled paintbrush to transfer pollen from the male flowers onto the female flowers. Instead, the entire fruit surrounds a single embryo in the middle. Chayote can be prepared in many ways, and has a texture similar to squash. The outer layer is green and thin. Vines can grow 6 to 9 metres (20 to 30 feet) in a season, and produce as many as 50 to 100 squash per plant. Later, it was classified as Sicyo… Plant 1 chayote vine per household of 4 persons. Place the jar in a sunny place out of prolonged direct sunlight. Use a container that is approximately two feet deep. Chayote Squash: A New Staple Crop for Northern Gardens? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Anonymous. Pull the fruit off the vine, carefully to avoid damaging or snapping the vine itself. You may wish to wear gloves while picking chayotes. Try not to pick ones that have begun to go brown and rot. By using our site, you agree to our. The Chayote (Sechium edule) is a gourd native to Mesoamerica but grown world-wide.I actually came across my first plant in Vancouver. Its vine can grow … Vitamin D may Reduce Severity of COVID-19, Why Face Masks are Essential as We Go Back to Work. Chayote seeds germinate reliably at temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Grow-Chayotes-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Chayotes-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Grow-Chayotes-Step-1.jpg\/aid9835848-v4-728px-Grow-Chayotes-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"