Chayote
Sechium edule
Also known asMirliton · Christophine · Choko · Vegetable pear · Cho-cho · Chuchu
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 8–12 (winter low around -12°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 |
| flowering | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.2 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of potassium, nitrogen. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
- High transpiration. Regular reservoir top-ups needed during fruiting.
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
A productive hydroponic vine for warm greenhouses. Propagation is unusual: the fruit is viviparous, so plant the whole fruit with its seed inside, set at a 45-degree angle with the stem end up and slightly exposed, and the vine emerges from that end. Use a large container (around 30 L) or media bed with a strong trellis, since the vine runs 5–10 m in a season. Hold EC around 1.6-2.4 mS/cm and pH 6.0-6.8. It is tropical, wanting 20–30°C; growth stops below 15°C and frost kills it. Give high light, 18-28 mol/m2/day. The small white flowers are monoecious and can self-pollinate. Fruiting starts 90 to 120 days from planting and continues for months. Pick fruit firm at 8–12 cm, since overripe fruit turns tough and fibrous, and a vine can give 50 to 100 or more fruits over a long season. The mild flavour suits Latin American and Asian cooking.