Chayote
Sicyos edulis
Chayote is a vigorous perennial climber with pale green, pear-shaped fruit, popular in the hills of north-east India and Darjeeling. The fruit, young shoots and tuberous roots are all eaten.
Photo: Kahuroa · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Water regularly in dry weather; keep the soil moist while fruiting.
Soil
Rich, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
8–32 °C · High humidity
Feeding
Feed with compost every two months during growth.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Trim to control spread; the vine can cover a large pergola.
Chayote is safe to eat. The sap on the fruit can make hands sticky when peeling.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant the whole sprouted fruit on its side, half buried.
Give a strong, large pergola.
Pick fruit while tender and light green.
Young shoot tips are a tasty green.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →PestFruit flies
Flies that lay eggs inside ripening fruit; the maggots rot the fruit from within.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
