Sechium edule
Chayote
Common names: Christophine, Vegetable pear
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 200 cm, rows 250 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Mar–Apr
- Harvest
- Sep–Oct
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below 2 °C
- Water need
- High
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Description
The Chayote, botanically Sechium edule, is a vigorous climbing squash from Central America. It is grown outdoors only during the warm summer half‑year. The entire fruit produces a single sprout, which can be planted directly into fertile soil as a cutting rather than sowing seeds. The vines can reach several meters in length and require a sturdy trellis or fence for support. The wrinkled, pale‑green fruits are harvested in late summer to autumn, before any risk of early frosts.
Care instructions
Plant the Chayote after the last spring frosts, around mid‑May (week 20), in a sunny, wind‑protected spot with humus‑rich, well‑drained soil. Water regularly and generously, especially during dry periods, as the large leaves transpire heavily. Provide a tall, stable trellis early on so the plant does not overrun itself. Mulch around the roots to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Bring the fruits indoors before the first frost, as even light frost can damage the delicate plant and its harvest.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–Apr
HarvestSep–Oct
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 18 °C, ideally 25 °C
- Days to sprout
- 30 to 60 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 5 cm
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, moist, humus-rich, nutrient-rich
Chayote needs loose, deep soil with plenty of humus, because over the course of the season its vines produce an enormous mass of foliage. It tolerates waterlogging poorly, but copes very well with even moisture. Before planting, work mature compost into the top 30 cm; this creates the nutrient-rich base it needs for months.
Do not grow chayote directly after other cucurbits such as courgette or cucumber; leave the bed four years free of this family.
Feeding
Heavy feeder
Months
May–Aug
Give chayote a portion of well-rotted compost every two to three weeks, or water with diluted nettle feed. A mulch layer of grass clippings or straw keeps the soil moist and steadily releases nutrients as a bonus. From August, slowly reduce feeding, so that the plant invests in fruit rather than leaf growth.
Overwintering
In Central Europe chayote does not survive the winter outdoors, since it does not tolerate even light frost. The thick root tuber can be stored frost-free and dry at 10 to 15 degrees and started into growth again in spring. Alternatively, in late winter you can raise a new plant from the whole, viable fruit on a bright windowsill.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
The easiest way to propagate chayote is from the whole fruit: lay it at an angle in moist soil so that the tip with the sprout pokes out, and wait for it to shoot in a warm, bright position. This often takes several weeks, so start early enough in the year, ideally from mid-February to March. After overwintering, you can divide the root tuber in spring and start the pieces off individually. Plant out in the open or in a greenhouse only after the last frosts; chayote is sensitive to cold.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
You should avoid planting potato and cucumber together because they share disease pathogens such as leaf and brown rot and stand in each other's way as strong feeders.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 14 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop-rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Chayote yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
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