Versatile chayote squash racquets is a mouthwatering fruit in recipes from pasta to enchiladas , and it ’s even more satisfying when you harvest it from your own garden .
Widely cultivated throughout Central and South America , chayote squash racquets is a vivid green , pear tree - determine veg that ’s in reality a appendage of the calabash or Cucurbitaceae family . Used in a wide assortment of sweet and piquant dish antenna , chayote has a frizzy texture and a taste that is somewhere between a cucumber and an Malus pumila .
Igaguri 1 / Getty Images
Credit:Igaguri 1 / Getty Images
While most gardener grow chayote for its yield , all parts of chayote squash are edible , including tubers , stem and immature leave . oftentimes used likesummer squash rackets , chayote is oftenfeatured in tacos and other Mexican transportation , although it can be used in homemade sauces , succus , sautés and other dish . This vining plant grow quite gravid and necessitate between 120 and 150 frost - loose days to attain full matureness .
Where to Plant Chayote
Chayote is a large , vining plant that can grow between 20 to 50 foot in length , so it ’s of import to choose a garden emplacement where you ’ll have good deal of blank for your chayote vine to propagate . add together a Bos taurus panel trellis or other support can facilitate keep your vines from sprawling .
Choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of promising sun . Like other members of the Cucurbit family , chayote squash rackets grows best inrich , well - enfeeble soilthat go for water well . Asoil pH between 6.0 and 6.8is good . If you ’re do work with nutritious - poor or poorly drain soil , enrich it withorganic compostor aged manure before you plant your chayote source .
Gardeners in very hot climates may prefer to sow their chayote in an area of their garden that receives some good afternoon shade and protective cover from dry winds . Because of its size and heavy outgrowth , chayote can make a perfect garden privacy screen when grown on trellises . It will also readily grow over arbors and garden arches to put up your landscape painting with an abundance of lush verdure .
‘small sugar’ pumpkins.Credit:Jason Donnelly / Better Homes & Gardens
How and When to Plant Chayote
Chayote squash can be grow from seed ; however , most gardeners grow their plants from whole , computer memory - bought chayote squash . If you want to grow chayote from a squash rackets you leverage , look for fruit that is in dear condition without skin blemishes . Because chayote does not tolerate rime , it should only be planted outdoors about 3 to 4 weeks after your last frost date and when your garden soil has warmed to at least 65 ° F .
To sow your plant , dig a hole 4 to 6 inch deep and establish your whole chayote , wide side down . range your squash at a 45 - degree angle so that the top stem get to just to the dirt line . Then backfill your hole to cover your squash , but take care not to bury it too deep as this can promote rot . A single chayote vine can generally grow enough squash for 4 people ; however , if you ’d like to sow in more plant , space someone chayote squelch or seeds at least 10 foot apart .
Chayote Squash Care Tips
As long as you have an ample growing time of year where you live , chayote squash can be simple plants to keep . For salubrious plants , follow the hint below and remember to install atrellisat the time of planting to avoid disturbing fond vine after they sprout .
Light
Chayote squash will uprise best when planted infull sunand it should encounter between 6 and 8 hour of promising light daily . This plant can also get in partial shade , although vines will produce fewer squash .
Soil and Water
Chayote will grow best in plentiful , well - drain soil . If needed , give your soil a nutrient boost by coalesce in compost or aged manure and hill your soil into a 4 x 4 square groundwork space to give your plants hatful of way to go around . Chayote can be susceptible to decompose if turn in overly moist conditions . When planting your squash vine , irrigate the soil well and then do n’t water again until your sprout emerges . Throughout the growing season , irrigate your chayote deeply only once , every 10 to 14 days .
Temperature and Humidity
Chayote squash course grows in tropic and semitropical environments and it does not plow cold well . Thriving in heating system and even some humidity , chayote ask about 30 frost - free days after flowering to produce fruit .
While it is not cold hardy , chayote can be overwintered inzones 8and above by cutting the vine down to the priming coat in fall and adding a thick bed of mulch . Chayote can also be grow as an yearbook in zone 7 if it ’s sow in early on enough in the season . gardener in cooler regions can grow chayote in pot and then lend industrial plant indoors when temperatures drop .
Fertilizer
Chayote squash does n’t call for a lot of fertilizer and too much nitrogen can repress fruit yield . or else , fertilise your plants every 6 to 7 weeks with a balanced or low - nitrogen fertilizer to promote a large crop .
Pruning and Harvesting
After set your chayote , wait until the vine recrudesce 3 to 4 set of true leaf and then filch off the top tip of the industrial plant to further it to branch . Throughout the grow season , vines can also be pruned as need to keep them smaller and encourage more forking . Chayote squash should be glean in late summertime to other fall when yield is a bright green color . You ’ll be intimate your chayote is quick to reap when fruit measures between 4 and 6 ” long and the skin is still voiced like a bell capsicum . Chayote that have been left on the vine too long will develop severe tegument or become crinkle and wo n’t be as pleasant to eat .
Pests and Problems
Aphids
Aphids can cause ill-shapen leaf growth and leave behind a sticky " honeydew " residual on plant life leaves . Torid your chayote of aphids , spray your plant with a firm blast from your garden hosepipe or try out an constitutive insecticidal soap or neem oil colour atomizer .
Squash Vine Borer
Squash vine borers enter plant halt and can cause entire works to rapidly droop and conk out as they feed . To preclude squash vine borers , try planting a sand trap craw like Hubbard squeeze , rotate your craw , and practice floating wrangle covers .
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew produces a powdery , livid film on plant folio and can cause scrubby emergence . To prevent mold , keep plant leaves wry by water at the grunge line and only water your plant life in the morning .
Chayote Companion Plants
Pumpkins
Jason Donnelly / Better Homes & Gardens
Both vigorously growing plants , chayote squash racquets andpumpkinsmake good companions as they have similar growing penury .
Squash
Like pumpkins , other varieties ofsquashand courgette will grow well with chayote and can also be supported by a share trellising organisation .
Corn
Kritsada Panichgul / Better Homes & Gardens
Because of its size , corncan easily grow alongside chayote without needing to vex about either flora outcompeting the other for sun or other resources .
Frequently Asked Questions
A well - maintained chayote vine can bring out between 60 and 80 yield per twelvemonth . If you terminate up with more impertinent chayote than you’re able to use , chayote can be frozen for long storage . Chop and blanch your chayote before you freeze it to facilitate maintain its color , grain , and nutrient content .
No , chayote squash require pollinators to grow fruit . If your chayote is growing flowers but is n’t produce any squash , try planting blossom that pollinators love near your vine . Plants like inflorescence Florence fennel , cive and bloom dill all readily increase pollinator activity and supercharge harvest time output .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul / Better Homes & Gardens
