Things Needed
The Pyrus communis - shape , light - green yield known in the U.S. as vegetable pears and in Mexico aschayotesgrow on vigorous cold - sensitive vines of the cucurbit syndicate — the same plant family unit that includes pumpkins , squash , melons and cucumbers . Known to ancient Aztecs as chayotli and to botanists as Sechium edule , chayote vines ask a 150 - twenty-four hour period growing season between laborious frosts , a circumstance hard to descend by in the U.S. except for Southern venue . Where frost does n’t ruin the roots , an established chayote plant will resprout the following outpouring and again produce an vast quantity of fruit .
Step 1
buy several refreshful chayote fruits in fall , even if they have been in cold entrepot and are wrap up in plastic . Unwrap them once you get home if they were incase in credit card .
Step 2
Store whole chayotes in a cool , non-white home such as a garage or back porch cupboard . The almond - sized chayote seeds inside the fruits will sprout , come forth and lengthen in the darkness . By February , the seedling will be about 6 inches long .
Step 3
Fill the 5 - gallon container to within several inches of the top with good moisten potting soil . take up out a chayote - sized country in the center and plant the intact sprout yield , the hint scarcely prove .
Step 4
Water the chayote pot thoroughly and place it in a sunny window until temperatures outside are strong . Keep territory evenly moist but not soggy .
Step 5
Place the jackpot out of doors when temperatures are warm , side by side to the fencing or trellis that will provide support . Water on a regular basis , exhaustively saturate the soil . You may irrigate once or twice daily during hot atmospheric condition , because antecedent are restrain to moisture available to them in the container .
Step 6
Mulch the chayote soil with several inches of mulch to maintain moisture . Tend the vine all summer ; it will grow to 30 feet or more before blossoming or setting fruit . vine will bloom in August or September and be covered with chayotes by September or October .
Step 7
harvest time fruits when muddle size , sliced - cucumber size or 1 - pound - Pyrus communis sizing . Vines will die back after the first frost , but fruit wo n’t be damaged until the first strong hoar . Protect the dormant root by storing the pot in a nerveless — not frosty — service department or cellar until spring . Water the pot softly every month or so .
Tip
Fresh chayotes can be found in Mexican markets , and sometimes Fannie Farmer markets and supermarkets . make a bee - friendly habitat for both honeybees and native bee . Like all cucurbits , chayotes comport male and distaff flowers on the same plant and need bees for unspoiled pollination and fruit set .
Warning
Do n’t fertilize chayote vine heavily , or you ’ll get even more vine and few fruit . They will want some fertilizer , however , being grown in alimentary - complimentary potting soil , so provide weewee - soluble fertiliser at least every three of four weeks .
References
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