How to Grow Chayote

[@learnTableTenis]

Nice video. I only eat them stir fried with meat. I don't think it's a good idea to compare it with fruit since this is vegetable with less sugar in it. Please remember there are different varieties of chayotes you have to choose based on your grow zone or you'll not seeing any fruit but leaves in colder states. I grow 2 exact chayote fruits bought from super market, and they just start to have flower in October, which means I'll never have any fruit before frost comes in 2 weeks this year. All chayotes you can buy from super market in the US are most likely slow mature variety since consumers like the smooth skin and round shape, and they require very long growing season to successfully harvest any fruit, 8 months for me to just start to see flower in Massachusetts for me this year. I'm asking friends for early maturing varieties and hopefully will have some fruit in 4 or 6 months next year. Earlier mature variety may have spiky skins, longer shape with deep furrows from top to bottom on the fruit. The ones in this video have smooth skin and look big and round with no furrows, which means they are slow maturing kind from Mexico and should only be planted in southern states if you're hoping to get fruit instead of only leaves and shoots, which can also be used as vegetable as well.

[@AnoleGarden]

Wow! You are absolutely right!!!! All I had were leaves all spring and summer. Thank you so much for your insights!🙏👍🤗

[@robertmagbanua6218]

Xin chao

[@christopherwhiddon2033]

I'm in zone 7a East Tn. I think luck was with me that we have had only a couple very light frosts in the last few weeks. Surprisingly, my vines have tolerated it quite well. Had there been a freeze in September I wouldn't have been able to harvest any because that was when mine began to make baby squash. I was so thrilled to see them too! The latest revelation I learned is that they can be perennial so I plan to cut tbem.back and mulch them and just see what happens. I'm unfamiliar with what variety I have. All I know is they're green, pear shaped and look like a Muppet character. Good luck Massachusetts!🖒

[@theclarendongroupii437]

Anole. HELP! Iguana the destructive Pest. I recently moved to Florida and have started a home garden. I spend most of my time chasing these blasted Iguanas that keep eating my squash plants. I want to plant Chayote plants. But I am very hesitant. At the start of your video, I saw an Iguana on your intro part of the video. How are you managing to keep them from destroying your plants. Thanks for your help

[@AnoleGarden]

We are so sorry! We are further north of you and we don't have iguanas roaming freely like they do in South Florida. We have anoles, which are about 3 inches long.

[@AnoleGarden]

And the anoles don't eat our vegetables...they eat the bugs that eat the vegetables.

[@fueymanchoo1291]

I love this squash. I slice it about 3/8" and grill it. It keeps a meaty texture and tastes great! With the help of your video, I know what I'm picking up at the grocery store today!

[@AnoleGarden]

We've never grilled it. We will have to try it! Thank you for that option.

[@liemnguyen5264]

In what month do you usually see Chayote fruits? I am in zone 7b and don't see "baby fruits" until the middle of October, but the weather may get cold and the whole wine is dead.

[@suec.1469]

You need to snip the tops after 5 weeks for it to have branches

[@shannonc7825]

Just curious can chayote be pickled?

[@AnoleGarden]

We know that chayote can be easily made into refrigerator pickles. We think we can make true brined pickles out of them as well (they're are sort of like cucumbers), but haven't done that yet and aren't sure if they'll get mushy or not. If we get a handful of fruit off them this year, we'll definitely try both and post up the results. Thanks for checking us out!

[@cosmicaug]

Starting these plants has been trivially easy without doing anything in particular. Keeping them alive in Central Florida soil (Winter Park, FL area) for more than a few weeks has been a failure every time I tried. Perhaps it's related to the prevalence of root know nematode in the state? Maybe it's something else?

[@AnoleGarden]

You are absolutely right about the "keeping them alive" is a problem! Every single one I planted eventually had nematode...I even surrounded them with marigolds, they still struggled. 😔

[@cosmicaug]

It's not exactly reassuring, but it's good feedback to understand that it's not just me. They initially look very healthy and grow to 2 or 3 feet (maybe even more) and one day they start wilting and, in just the matter of a few days, they are gone. I will surely try again if I get the chance.

[@pmfg875]

Chayote is so nutritious! Thank you for one of the the most helpful videos on chayote starting. Once the plant gets going all it really needs is water if planted in rich soil. Needs a fair amount of water. My husband is from Mexico and I have learned that the root, shoots, and fruits of this plant are edible and make amazing rice when it’s broth is used. It can also be made into a smoothie. Also, stir fried into taco filling, or shaved and mixed with eggs and cornstarch to make pancakes to dip in the sauce of your choice, or stuffed and fried in batter topped with salsa, or as cream soups ,it’s amazing! Any way you cook it it has some unique phytonutrients that heal stomach ulcers.

[@AnoleGarden]

Thank you so much for all of your helpful suggestions and ideas! Love it!☺️

[@christopherwhiddon2033]

I discovered this squash in the grocery store. I followed intruction videos on how to extract the seed and grow. I'm in East Tennessee so our growing season is shorter than Florida. I started in a greenhouse and transplanted in the garden once danger of frost had past in May. First harvest came in late September and picked 4 big ones today November 4th. I love to cut them up and cook them with collard greens! I still have much to learn about this plant.

[@AnoleGarden]

That's wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing your success!👍

[@patriciaa.2113]

Thx that was interesting but Jonathan you said you didn’t like it but you was eating it like you loved it🤣

[@AnoleGarden]

LOL!

[@apiecemaker1163]

I got tickled at your husband saying he didn’t like it but just kept eating it. Lol couldn’t have been too yuk. I’ve never had this but love squash so definitely want to try this now. I know how frustrating it can be for animals to get your plants, I’ve had deer get into my herb garden and they ate it up roots and all. I was so upset. Then I had a huge stevia plant in a pot and a dog got into it and ate the whole thing, roots and all. All that was left was potting soil everywhere. Grrrrr crazy animals 👩‍🌾🌻💛☀️

[@AnoleGarden]

Yes, he can be a little dramatic at times 😜...He said it wasn't that bad. We've been married a long time...I am almost certain I have snuck cooked chayote into his food before. 🤗 Thanks for watching. We hope you are free from animals for a while!

[@apiecemaker1163]

@@AnoleGarden my husband wouldn’t have even tried. When I try to introduce new foods, he’s like nope. But I look forward to trying this and also future videos. 🌻☀️

[@daveakins8348]

Great Video - as always… I am anticipating the first Anole Garden Annual Chayote Squash Festival! Arts, crafts, and a competition for the tastiest Chayote dishes!! Just a thought…..😊

[@AnoleGarden]

🤣😂

[@pamelabratton2501]

I bet they would be good grilled or roasted nice and golden brown! Roast them, put them in a pot, add three or four tablespoons butter and nothing else, cook till it turns to mush add salt-pepper, serve on rice or pasta! I am so hungry now! I have three of these in pots with plans to plant in the dirt along the fence with the neighbor.

[@AnoleGarden]

I hope they will produce lots of fruit for you!

[@1234lynjoy]

How long does it takes to bear fruit from planting?

[@AnoleGarden]

Between somewhere between 120-150 days.

[@thejasn6209]

Did you grow the chayote you ate? I have a plant about 4ft high. Need to make trellis for the plant. Any idea about size of the trellis?

[@AnoleGarden]

No, the seed from that one was very immature. Chayote needs sturdy support. Cattle panels with T-Posts would definitely work. You can set it up vertically or horizontally. Hope that helps. Thanks for checking us out. - D

[@thejasn6209]

Would 10ft long 5.5 ft high fence work for one plant?

[@AnoleGarden]

I believe it will. But make sure the fence is sturdy! We don't want it to come down once it's loaded with fruit and foliage. Also - don't forget that you can also harvest and eat the young shoots.

[@xio7572]

OMG…I’m Latina and I have never and will never eat it raw, I love it in caldo de res.

[@AnoleGarden]

Now that I have googled that, it looks amazing and I need it! And thank you for finally giving me a reasonable use for chayote! -J

[@backyardgardeningvibes]

I grow up in the Philippines eating chayote and moringa almost everyday never know you can eat them raw I seen all these people eat them but I wouldn’t 🤣🤣🤣

[@babypamcottage935]

Thank you, great info

[@AnoleGarden]

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful.

[@joyb2285]

It is ok to plant chayote in March? I live in Texas and I have no idea what to do. 😳😳

[@AnoleGarden]

As long as there is no freeze forecast expected. And if you aren't sure, it's best to start the growth process indoors, and then plant it outside.