ChoCho (Chayote) in My UK Garden: A Fabulous and Rewarding Vine that keeps giving

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Please don't forget to give me a thumbs up and subscribe for more about the exotics I am growing. Until next time, happy gardening.

[@AAHomeGardening]

nice chocho holding on

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thank you, the weather is not ideal so the crop is not as numerous as it could be. Nevertheless, there will be ChoCho in the pot for Saturday soup 😄

[@Hanna-DailyLife]

The way you handle everything is so professional

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thank you so much Hanna

[@lyonheart84]

Remarkable success with them again Mike considering the less than favourable Summer 👍

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thanks Brett. Poor weather, slugs and snails and powdery mildew has cause havoc on some of my plants this year.

[@Egbert4299]

amazing! we aprpeciate this delicious vegetable all over here in brasil. we call it xuxu / chouchou

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thank you Egbert. Yes ChoCho is appreciated in Brasil and other south American countries, but of course you guys have the ideal climate for growing it. Here in the UK, we have to time it just right else the plant could be destroyed by any cold snap that may occur.

[@ollyeccles]

Great job! Mine hasn’t fruited unfortunately, hopefully will over winter and try again next year!

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thanks Olly. How did you get the chayote fruit you used to grow the vine, and is this your first time of growing Chayote?

[@ollyeccles]

@@myexoticfoodplants6727 from the greengrocers. It’s my second attempt. Tried last year but was too late in the season to do much.

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

In my experience, Chayotes bought at a supermarket never flowers and produce fruits. Only Chayotes from a known fruiting vine normally does the job. If you are in the UK, message me your address and I will save and gift you one from my crop for the start of the season next year.

[@PeterEntwistle]

Fantastic results, Mike! I had a go at growing one on my allotment this year that Louis kindly sent to me, but it hasn't produced anything, probably for a combination of reasons. I think I got it in the ground a little late, then, of course, the less-than-ideal summer which has been even cooler and wetter up here. Also, the soil on my allotment is not very good, it needs some nutrition adding to it. I'm wondering if there is some way I could overwinter the plant, or perhaps take cuttings from it to grow for next year? Maybe I could dig it up and keep it in a pot indoors over winter? 🤔

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

Thanks Peter. If the Chayote Louis gave you is from the fruits he harvested from his homegrown plant, then there is a high chance of it fruiting. In my experience shop bought Chayotes produce lots of vines and foliage but no fruits. I start off my plants indoors and then plant them out in May when there is no chance of overnight frost. Cold weather will slow them down, and this year it has not been the best for Chayotes. Overwintering in a sheltered area with tons of mulch on top can work. But your idea of digging it up and overwinter in a pot indoors is probably safer. I have never tried taking cuttings from the vine myself, but have read that others have been successful in doing so.

[@backyardsnackyard]

What are chayotes? They look and sound so exotic.

[@myexoticfoodplants6727]

They are in the gourd family like Cucumbers and pumpkins Dani. It is indeed Exotic and there are keen growers in the UK with some reporting their progress in forums like "Chayote adaptation Project UK : ChAP" A group of chokoholics (one of the many names for Chayote) looking to promote Chayote(Sechium edule) cultivation in the UK by locating, cultivating and breeding early fruiting, cool weather tolerant varieties of this remarkable Central American squash species.

[@backyardsnackyard]

@@myexoticfoodplants6727 oh, how exciting!! I love the sound of that.