Chayote, Mirliton, Cho Ko, Cho-Cho, Vegetable Pear
Sechium edule

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

Sechium edule or commonly known as Chayote or Choko is a vigorous, perennial vine growing up to 30 m long native to Mesoamerica. It has a tuberous rootstock and heart-shaped leaves. The fruits contain a single seed, and are fleshy, irregular-shaped, and may be white or green depending on variety. The flowers are separate; male flowers are in clusters while female ones occur singly. Infusion of shredded fruit is used to lower blood pressure. The leaves also lower blood pressure and in addition, dissolve kidney stones. Tubers are diuretic and can be used against pulmonary conditions and intestinal inflammations. The fruits can be eaten either raw or cooked - usually boiled or baked. The seeds can be cooked and are great source of protein. Similarly, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked while young leaves and stem tips are cooked as vegetables. The stems yield fibers which are used to make baskets, hats, mats, etc. Plant propagation is through seeds

Sechium edule is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 12 m (39ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects, Parthenocarpic. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Moist, steep hillsides.

C. America - Guatemala, southern Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico*, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruits can vary in flavour, from bland or starchy to sweetish, depending on the cultivar. They can be boiled or baked as a vegetable. They can be mixed with lime juice and used as a substitute for apples in pies. Fruits of bland cultivars are used industrially as food fillers for pastes and sauces. Because of their low energy value, the fruits are gaining importance as a dietary food in hospitals and nursing homes, and are also considered good baby food. The fruit is normally used when immature and before the seed has enlarged. The obovoid fruit is up to 18cm long. Seed - cooked. Nut-like in flavour. The mature, protruding seeds are considered by some to be the best part of this fruit. When deep-fried they taste remarkably like french-fried potatoes. The seeds are a good source of protein. Tuber - raw or cooked. They are boiled, baked, fried and candied in syrup. The starch-rich tuber can weigh up to 5 kilos. Young leaves and stem tips - cooked as a vegetable. Eaten like asparagus. A good source of iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Flowers.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

An infusion of the shredded fruit is used to lower blood pressure. The tubers are a potent diuretic and are also applied for pulmonary ailments and relief of intestinal inflammation. The leaves are said to possess cardiovascular modifying as well as blood pressure lowering properties and to dissolve kidney stones.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure

Kidney: Used in the treatment of kidney diseases

Other

Rating: 3

Other Uses: Fibres from the stem have been used to make baskets and hats and, as reported from Ghana, as binding material in the construction of mud houses.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

String: Plants that can be used for string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre. Plants for ropes may be included.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Chayote is a plant of the tropics and subtropics, it can also be grown as an annual crop in areas of the temperate zone that can offer a growing season of at least 6 months. It can be grown at elevations up to 2,000 metres in the tropics, yielding better crops above 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 19 - 30°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c. Higher yields are achieved when there is a reasonable drop in temperatures over night. Temperatures below 13°c cause damage to small unripe fruits, and the plant is killed by frosts. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,600mm. The plant generally grows well in full sun, but some cultivars produce higher yields when grown in light shade. It grows best in a sheltered position in a well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.3 - 8. Chayote is a long-lived perennial plant, but in cultivation it is recommended to renew it at least every 3 years because of disease problems. Plants can begin to produce a crop of immature fruits within 3 - 4 months from sowing the seed and then continue producing for a considerable time. Individual plants grown on their own usually set a good crop of fruit. Mature fruits can be produced 120 - 180 days after sowing the seed. The tubers do not develop until the second year, and do not develop well in climates without a dry season. In regions with a season of arrested growth, they can reach 10 kilos in weight and resemble yam tubers. Yields of up to 60 tonnes per hectare of mature fruits can been obtained. A plant can produce 80 - 100 fruits a year plus 20 - 25 kilos of roots. Plants are very susceptible to pests and diseases in wet climates. The seed germinates in the ripe fruit whilst still on the mother plant. The stem of the seedling grows out from the fruit apex and curves upwards. It produces roots which abort if they do not make contact with soil. The are many named varieties. Flowering Time: Late Fall/Early Winter. Bloom Color: White/Near White. Spacing: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm).

Propagating it: Seed - keep the seed inside the fruit when sowing. A mature fruit, with the germinating seed inside, should be planted to two thirds of its length with its widest end down. Stem cuttings 15 - 20cm long are sometimes used. These should be planted in a shady position and kept moist until they have rooted.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial Climber

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Chayote, Mirliton, Cho Ko, Cho-Cho, Vegetable Pear, Christophene, Alcaiota, Cayota, Chaco, Chayotera, Chayotli, Chinchayote, Chitungula, Chocho, Choco, Chow-chow, Chuchu, Cidrayota, Ebisusuuti, Fak mao, Fak meo, Fat shau kwa, Fo shou gua, Gambas, Gayota, Goorakathee, Guispui, Harp jeung kwa, Hayato uri, Huisquil, Iskos, Iskus, Iskut, Khaugai, Labu siem, Li gua, Machiche, Ngowe, Papa del aire, Pis, Saiotta, Sayote, Se-uak, Sumsum, Sun ren gua, Susut, Toluteipi, Vegetable pear, Walu jepan, Xuxu, camochayote, chayote, chayóte espinoso, chinchayote, cho-cho, chocho, chou-chou, chow chow|chow chow, christofine, christophine, chuchu, cueza, fo shou gua, hayato-uri, kayote, machiche-francês, machucho, pipinela, stachelgurke, tallote, vegetable-pear, xuxú.

Synonyms

Chayota edulis (Jacq.) Jacq. Cucumis acutangulus Descourt. Sechium americanum Poir. Sechium chayota