Tips to Grow Chayote

Provide Proper Soil

• Work the soil within 3 feet of where the chayote will be planted to a depth of about 2 feet. Ensure that the pH is between 5.0 and 6.0. Chayote is prone to rotting in the ground, so good drainage is required.

Erect a Trellis

• Chayote fruits are generally weighed in ounces. Because of their small size, they do well grown unsupported on trellises. Erect a 6-foot trellis before planting the fruit, since chayote grows aggressively under ideal conditions. As soon as the seedlings emerge, begin training them to the trellis. They produce best when nighttime temperatures are between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant the Whole Fruit

• Chayote has one of the few seeds that can sprout while still inside the fruit that is attached to the vine. This special characteristic is called vivipary. Most growers of chayote plant the whole fruit so as not to damage the seed while attempting to remove it. Plant a chayote with the shoot end pointing downward at a 45-degree angle and the stem end protruding from the soil slightly.

Shade the Plant

• Chayote produce fruit when day lengths are short. Some growers use shades to trigger fruit production. After 6 to 8 weeks of growth, dark cloths are stretched over frames that cover the entire plant. For the next 4 to 6 weeks, the plants are uncovered for only 8 hours each day until flowers develop.