Longtime supporter of Extension programs, Clarence Hartwig of Cullman County, has stumbled on to another alternative vegetable, or should we say alternative crop. Clarence is growing the Guatemalan vegetable chayote, and sings its praises to all who will lend an ear.
Clarence has followed the lead of Extension agents for new and nontraditional programs since the 1970s, and he's still involved with farming and many of those crops today (at the spirited youthful age of 77) such as thornless blackberries, blueberries, ducks, meat sheep, plant propagation, and kiwi production.
The chayote (pronounced chah-YOH-teh) is a native plant in sunny Mexico and a little-known member of the squash family. It is also known as a mirliton and is sometimes called a "chcocho" or a "vegetable pear." In scientific terms the chayote is a tender, perennial-rooted cucurbit, with climbing vines and leaves resembling those of the cucumber. It has light green, pear-shaped fruit that contains a single flat edible seed and may weigh as much as 2-3 lbs, but averages 6-12 ounces.
Although the chayote is grown to a limited extent in Florida, it is virtually unheard of in Alabama, even in grocery stores. But Clarence was lucky enough to find some in a grocery store near Fort Payne, Alabama. From one fruit Clarence harvested over 10 gallons of chayote fruit this year! That's pretty amazing. He says they make a wonderful crunchy addition to a salad---seed and all.
Chayotes, which are also called "mango squash," have a crisp flesh reminiscent of the water chestnut. They can be served creamed, buttered, fried, stuffed, baked, frittered, boiled, mashed, pickled, in pies, or, as Clarence says, in salads. Commercially, the biggest market appears to be for pickling (according to researchers at University of Florida Extension). Following harvest the fruits may be stored for several weeks unharmed if kept wrapped in newspaper at cool temperatures (50-55 degrees F). Sprouting will occur at room temperatures. But sprouting may be just what the doctor ordered if you want to grow some chayote. The entire fruit can then be planted as a seed (after sprouting). Be careful not to water much because of the plant's susceptibility to rotting (like all squash). It's wise to water at the time of planting and again after the plant sprouts and starts growing. Since chayote is tropical you'll want to avoid cool temperatures too. Temperatures below 50 degrees F can cause chilling injury to them.
When planting outside, plant one fruit per hill spaced 8 to 12 feet apart and in rows approximately 12 feet apart. Make sure the vine will be trellised for support. It should be fertilized lightly three times during the growing season: at planting, in the middle of summer, and when its fruits are small. Well-rotted manures work well with chayote. Avoid heavy fertilization that will cause excessive vine growth and poor fruit production.
Thanks for the info Clarence!
Reference GormetSleuth.com. (2001). Chayote. Retrieved January 7, 2005.