Chayote, sechium edule, is a gourdlike vegetable native to mexico and central america, although it is now widely cultivated in warmer regions of the world, including areas of the united states with mild winters. Chayote sechiumedule, cucurbitaceae, a lesserknown member of the gourd family, is gaining in popularity and importance as a food crop worldwide. Because of the wide diversity of chayote plants found. Chayote vegetable pear nutrition facts and health benefits. The skin is pale green and smooth with slight ridges that run lengthwise. Pronounced chahyohteh, the chayote is another native mexican plant and is a member of the squash family. Management of plant bug, spider mites and white flies a. To serve, drain chayote mixture, reserving marinade.
Chayote is a gourd that you can use similar to the way you use summer squash or cucumber. These instructions have been developed by the fresh products branch to assist officially licensed inspectors in making inspections, writing certificates and to assist in the. Since frost will take a chayote squash vine to the ground, he puts some of the final fruits of fall on the porch and lets them sit until spring when they can be planted out again. Plants thrive at lower elevations in california and the southwest, and in the warmer valleys of oregon and washington. Just choose unblemished fruit that are mature, and then lay it on its side in a 1gallon pot of soil with the stem up at a 45degree angle. Chayote medicinal benefits and its facts veggies info.
What are the health benefits of raw chayote squash juice. The international plant genetic resources institute ipgri is an autonomous international scientific organization operating under the aegis of the consultative group. Following harvest the fruits may be stored in edible condition for several weeks if wrapped in newspaper and kept cool 5055f. The pot should be placed in a sunny area with temps from 8085 f. Chayote is a versatile squash that provides potential health benefits.
How chayote is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. Chayote, also called mirliton or choko, is a gourdlike squash that is about the size and shape of a very large pear. Chayote sechium edule has gained widespread consuming acceptance and recognized by its nutritional and biofunctional properties. It was introduced into the antilles and south america between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is one of the wellrecognized field plants in many. The plant can grow under full sun to mild shaded conditions. This light green vegetable, shaped like a rough, wrinkly pear, has a mild flavor that. Chayote pronounced chahyohtee scientifically known as sechium edule, is the edible fruit of a tropical perennial vine plant which is a member of the cucurbitaceae family, along with other squashes, gourds, cucumbers and melons. Uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients in chayote. Health benefits of chayote chayote, also known as vegetable pear or christophine is a green colored squash that is highly nutritious and a perfect addition to your diet. The flesh is white and there is one soft seed in the middle. Chayote squash sechium edule, also called vegetable pear, mirliton, chocho or custard marrow, is a vegetable and a member of the family cucurbitaceae which includes squash and cucumbers. Chayote can be sprouted from fruit purchased at the supermarket.
Find quality produce products to add to your shopping list or order online for delivery or pickup. Chayote is a gourd plant, eaten in similar fashion to the summer squash, cucumbers and melons. Chayote squash inspection instructions there are no u. Get full nutrition facts and other common serving sizes of chayote fruit including 1 oz and 100 g.
Drinking chayote juice regularly helps to bring down blood pressure effectively. Mirlitons need to be pollinated by bees, though wasps will aid in some pollinating. Chayote squash inspection instructions agricultural. The whole plant is edible chayote is a relatively new veggie in us that comes from middle and south america. Chayote is a good source of a number of essential nutrients. The plant bears male flowers in clusters and solitary female flowers. Once established, a single plant can bear 50 to 100 fruits a season. You can add raw chayote to salads or cook them in meat or vegetarian dishes. Learn how to use chayote in your recipes, and nutritional facts for the fruit. Genetic characterization of chayote sechium edule jacq. Chayote herb uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients. Gardeners can harvest chayote as far north as usda hardiness zone 7.
Chayote cultivation is widely distributed in mesoamerica. Chayote salad might sound intimidating but trust us. It has a texture somewhere in between a potato and cucumber. Chayote sechium edulepopularly known as sayote in the philippines, is an edible plant that belongs to the gourd family. Chayote is rich in vitamin c which is an effective antioxidant which is essential to protect our cells from free radical causing cancer. Following harvest the fruits may be stored in edible condition for several weeks. They are low in sodium and a fair source of potassium. It is imperative to note that even many fried items and fast foods have good vegetables. The flesh is quite crisp something like a water chestnut. Chayote, sechium edule, perennial vine of the gourd family cucurbitaceae, cultivated for its edible fruits.
I am handpollinating these because the feral bee population has been reduced by 80% in the last few years. Nutrients in chayote squash chayote is a vegetable that belongs to the cucurbitaceae family and is still a family with cucumber, and pumpkin. Chayote grows on a vine like any other type of squash, but the process for starting this plant from seed is slightly different from most other squash. However, it has been grown successfully in the tropical areas of the southern united states, but it is unlikely that it will become an abundant cash. Chayote squash, also known as mirliton in the us, is a pearshaped light green vegetable in the gourd family. Developmental and nutritional aspects of chayote sechium edule.
Chayote has a wonderful mild flavor and has many health benefits, and the whole plant including the leaves and the roots are edible. Grow chayote in loose, welldrained but moistureretentive soil rich in organic matter. The whole plant including the fruit, stem and leaves contains multiple nutrients and has antiinflammatory properties that can aid in the treatment of highblood pressure. The first botanical description mentioning the name sechium was in fact done in 1756 by p.
National center for home food preservation november 2004 chayote. Apart from their mild sweet taste chayote is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Virus diseases are the most important problem in chayote production. Planting chayote plant the whole fruit 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring when the weather has warmed. Top each serving with chopped red onion and tomato wedges. The fruits are boiled, baked, or sauteed as a vegetable and can be eaten raw. It is also referred to as a vegetable pear or chcocho. Although technically a fruit, chayote is often used more like a vegetable in latin cuisine. The chayote was a favorite fruit of the aztecs and mayans.
The scientific name for the squash is sechium edule. These instructions have been developed by the fresh products branch to assist officially licensed inspectors in making inspections, writing certificates and to assist in the proper identification of specialty type fruits and vegetables. Chayote is native to the new world tropics and is also grown as an annual plant in temperate climates. Addition of organic matter will improve drainage and nutrient uptake. And chayote was a staple food for the aztec indians for hundreds of years. The international plant genetic resources institute ipgri is an autonomous international scientific organization operating under the aegis of the consultative group on international agricultural research cgiar. Chayote sechium edule phytochemical and pharmacological approaches october 2017 in book. Chayote can be grown in the tropics and subtropics from sealevel to 6000 feet above sealevel.
Female flower mirliton and how to hand pollinate chayote this is my spring cropunusual for spring in new orleans. Chayote pronounced chahyohtee is a light green, pearshaped fruit with a single, large pit and edible flesh and skin. Chayote facts, health benefits and nutritional value. It is one of the wellrecognized field plants in many midamerican regions and some southern us states like california, louisiana, and florida. Female flower mirliton and how to hand pollinate chayote. Commercially, the biggest market appears to be for pickling. May 07, 2014 health benefits of chayote chayote, also known as vegetable pear or christophine is a green colored squash that is highly nutritious and a perfect addition to your diet. Chayote plant helps in getting rid of inflammatory diseases by suppressing the production of proinflammatory compounds and increasing. Although the peel and seed are edible, the peel is a bit tough and it isnt usually eaten. All parts of the chayote plant including the stem, leaves and fruits are high in different kinds of nutrients.
Effect of feeding chayote sechium edule meal on growth. While it is native to hot climates, it can be grown nearly anywhere that has a warm summer season. Its low in sugar, with each serving providing just 4. In puerto rico, cook 1901 distinguished five differ ent varieties of fruit with varying combinations of shape and colour. Chayote production guidelines for hawaii hector valenzuela1. Each 1cup serving of raw chayote squash juice contains just 48 calories less than 3 percent of your daily energy intake, based on a 2,000calorie diet. The chayote is seen in two forms, smooth and prickly.
Preparation chayote can be very simply prepared, peeled, cut into quarters, steamed, drained, buttered and seasoned with fresh lemon or lime juice. Names of chayote in various languages of the world are also given. One of the greatest attributes of chayote squash is its nutrition content, as it offers various essential vitamins. It has heartshaped leaves, 1025 cm wide and tendrils on the stem. These chayote originally came from my friend joe pierce of cob oven fame. Chayote plant is excellent for individuals with kidney stones. Optimum conditions for growth and fruiting are 30c daytime and 15c nighttime temperatures. Plant chayote in full sun in soil that is loose, welldrained but moisture retentive and rich in organic matter. The chayote vine can be grown on the ground, but as a climbing plant, it will grow onto anything, and can easily rise as high as 12 meters when support is provided.
As for the nutrient content contained in the squash is as follows. Growing chayote organic gardening mother earth news. This plant is a member of the cucurbitaceae family and is mainly produced as a nontraditional export crop. This feature requires flash player to be installed in your browser.
In subfamily sicyoideae, chayote is the only cultivated cucurbit. Chayote plants sechium edule are a member of the cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers and squash. The chayote is a pearshaped squash which originates from mexico. Chayote is a green, bumpy squash with a mild taste and multiple beneficial effects.
Fruit and vegetable phytochemicals, chemistry and biological functions pp. Chayote squash choko, vegetable pear, mirliton, custard marrow mango squash, chaco, choco, tallon, tallote, chocho, christophene laboe siam is a native of mexico usually imported to u. Nutrition information chayotes are low in calories, 3 ounces contain 24 calories. This topic will deal with an edible plant named chayote. Light green, pear shaped fruit also known as chaco, choko, chayote, chocho, chayote squash, choco, vegetable pear, custard marrow and madeira marrow is originally. Its also known as vegetable pear, mirliton and christophene. Sep 06, 2018 chayote plant is excellent for individuals with kidney stones. When you go shopping for chayote, remember that they age as much as we do, so if theyre wrinkled, theyre old. Nutrient composition of chayote fruits, stems, leaves, and meal is presented in table1. It dissolves kidney stones and increases the urinary output. Growing chayote has been cultivated since precolumbian times. Also known as vegetable pear, mirliton, choko, and custard marrow, chayote plants are native to latin america, specifically southern mexico and guatemala. Growing chayote is a great option if you live in a warm or tropical climate. It was observed that the dm % of boiled chayote meal, chayote fruit, chayote leaf, and chayote stem was 15.
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