Chayote — Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. - Orange County Extension ...

<strong>Chayote</strong> <strong>—</strong> <strong>Sechium</strong> <strong>edule</strong> (<strong>Jacq</strong>.) <strong>Sw</strong>. 1<br />

James M. Stephens 2<br />

The chayote has been grown to a limited extent in<br />

Florida for many years. While native to Guatemala, it<br />

is popular throughout tropical regions, where it is<br />

known by several names including vegetable pear,<br />

mirliton, and mango squash.<br />

DESCRIPTION<br />

<strong>Chayote</strong> is a tender, perennial-rooted cucurbit,<br />

with climbing vines and leaves resembling those of<br />

the cucumber. The light green, pear-shaped fruit,<br />

which contains a single, flat edible seed, may weigh<br />

as much as 2-3 pounds, but most often is from 6-12<br />

ounces. While fruits may be slightly grooved and<br />

prickly, those grown in Florida are usually smooth.<br />

<strong>Chayote</strong>.<br />

CULTURE<br />

HS579<br />

While an edible tuberous root forms below the<br />

crown, it is the fruit for which the plant is grown.<br />

Since it is perennial, the best production is obtained<br />

2-3 years after the plant is established. The main<br />

varieties include `Florida Green,' `Monticello White,'<br />

and various imports.<br />

Some type of trellis or support for the climbing<br />

vines is required. Most trellises in Florida are<br />

constructed about head high to facilitate walking<br />

beneath the vines for harvesting and other<br />

operations.<br />

The whole fruit is planted as a seed. Each fruit<br />

has a single large seed that sprouts as soon as the fruit<br />

reaches maturity unless placed in cool storage. Fruits<br />

stored at 50°F remain in good condition for planting<br />

for as much as 6-8 weeks, although shriveling and<br />

decay are common.<br />

Plant one fruit per hill in hills spaced 12 feet<br />

apart and in rows spaced 12 feet apart. Place the fruit<br />

on its side with the smaller stem end sloping upward.<br />

While the stem end is usually left slightly exposed, in<br />

colder areas of Florida growers have found that the<br />

fruit should be completely covered with soil to<br />

1. This document is HS579, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative <strong>Extension</strong> Service, Institute of Food and<br />

Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 1994. Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.<br />

2. James M. Stephens, Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative <strong>Extension</strong> Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University<br />

of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.<br />

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and<br />

other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex,<br />

sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative <strong>Extension</strong> Service,<br />

University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative <strong>Extension</strong> Program, and Boards of <strong>County</strong> Commissioners Cooperating. Larry<br />

Arrington, Dean

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<strong>Chayote</strong> <strong>—</strong> <strong>Sechium</strong> <strong>edule</strong> (<strong>Jacq</strong>.) <strong>Sw</strong>. 2<br />

protect the bud from early cold damage. Plant in the<br />

early spring in all areas of Florida, and/or in the fall<br />

in South Florida.<br />

Fertilizer should be applied in three applications:<br />

at planting time, in the middle of the summer, and<br />

when fruits are small. Fertilizing at more frequent<br />

intervals might be necessary when conditions<br />

warrant. Well rotted animal manures or composted<br />

materials are beneficial.<br />

Both male and female flowers occur on the same<br />

vine. These flowers are visited by insects, both wasps<br />

and bees, which facilitate pollination. Fruits mature<br />

about 35 days following pollination.<br />

USE<br />

<strong>Chayote</strong> is served in many ways: creamed,<br />

buttered, fried, stuffed, baked, frittered, boiled,<br />

mashed, pickled, in salads, or in pies. Commercially,<br />

the biggest market appears to be for pickling.<br />

Following harvest the fruits may be stored in<br />

edible condition for several weeks if wrapped in<br />

newspaper and kept cool (50-55°F). At room<br />

temperature, the fruit will shrivel and sprout.