Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Chayote

Q. Is chayote growable from the seed inside a fresh one? If so, how long a growing season is required? Any info would be appreciated....Zone 5

A. I have grown chayote from the seed. It is a huge single seed inside in case you have not looked. Allow it to dry for a couple weeks and then plant it either in a very large pot or directly into the ground. It loves to climb, so furnish something. They are known to grow up trees, several stories tall, and can cut off oxygen to the tree, so be careful. The large fruit hand down in clusters, and is quite prolific. Plant in the spring and harvest all summer. Then, they die back but self-seed readily.

Actually it is a weed, though edible. I like to pick them young as they are small and more tender, plus the hard center seed has not matured, so you can slice and saut . Lovely in stir-fries and casseroles.