Chayote
7
3
4Will it grow where I live?
Chayote is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Habit
- Climber
- Height
- 13.5 m
- Spread
- 15 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 1 year
- First yield
- after 1 year
- Hardiness
- zone 10–12
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – very wet
- pH
- 5 – 7
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering |
Uses
Medicinal: Ein Aufguss aus den zerkleinerten Früchten wird zur Senkung des Blutdrucks verwendet. Die Knollen wirken stark harntreibend und werden auch bei Lungenerkrankungen und zur Linderung von Darmentzündungen eingesetzt. Den Blättern werden kardiovaskuläre und blutdrucksenkende Eigenschaften zugeschrieben; außerdem sollen sie Nierensteine auflösen.
Other uses: Aus den Fasern des Stängels werden Körbe und Hüte gefertigt und, wie aus Ghana berichtet, auch als Bindemittel beim Bau von Lehmhäusern verwendet
Frequently asked questions
Chayote: how big does it get?
Chayote (Sechium edule) grows as a Climber and reaches roughly 13.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 15 m. Growth is very fast.
Chayote: what site does it need?
Chayote tolerates partial shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very wet. The pH may lie between 5 and 7.
Chayote: is it hardy?
Chayote is listed as hardy in zone 10–12 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Chayote: will it grow in Central Europe?
Chayote is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.
Chayote: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers in August.
Chayote: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for Chayote. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Chayote: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 4/10.
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Community experience
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