Sechium edule 'Green Spiny' - Chayote

This is the green and spiny form of Chayote, possibly one of the oldest and easiest to grow. Sechium is a vine belonging to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, along with melons, cucumbers and squash, native to Central America.

Sechium edule is a fast-growing sprawling perennial climber with ornamental deep green foliage. It  bear lots of fruits called Chayote, in less than one year. It often dies back in winter or in drought and then comes back from the ground with renewed strength. Sechium edule grows very well outdoors on a fence or pergola in Tropical, Subtropical and Mediterranean conditions. It is finicky to grow in pots unless it is planted in large containers.

When cooked, chayote is usually handled like summer squash, it is generally lightly cooked to retain the crisp flavor. Raw chayote may be added to salads or salsas, most often marinated with lemon or lime juice. Whether raw or cooked, chayote is a good source of amino acids and vitamin C.

What do we ship?

We offer one large ripe fruit, ready to sprout. These fruits-seeds germinate like coconuts, half-buried, at temperatures betweeen 15 and 28 C.

The picture of part of the fruit on is by Wendy Cutler - Flickr: 20101006_24thMain_Chayote_Cutler_P1050270, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28893009