Chayote – “Kong” – Day Neutral Variety

This rare chayote was selected by Asian American gardeners in northerly states of the US where it is considered impossible to grow chayote. The critical trait that allows this variety to be grown there is day neutrality, meaning it will bloom and fruit when days are long. Most chayote types require short days for blooming. Another feature of this chayote is great precocity, fruiting at a young age. We have documented day neutrality here, with the plant blooming on June 21st, the longest day of the year. We have plants with harvestable fruit about 4 months from direct seeding. This is a very productive type. This variety possesses all the traits a grower would need to get good production in a climate with a much shorter growing season than Florida.

We are finding this variety to be a very wonderful garden vegetable on our farm. With quick and heavy production, this variety can even be grown as an annual. We don’t know yet about the longevity of this variety, which probably depends on nematode tolerance more than anything else. Year-round production is theoretically possible but we find that there is poor fruit set due to summer heat and plants get very beat up during the summer. They often look very bad and then regenerate from the base in the fall. Be aware that establishing plants going into summer may present a bit of a challenge.

We have named this variety “Kong” after the last name of the family it apparently originated with. We received it from our friend Eric Joseph Lewis.

Listing is for two fruits showing sprout primordia. Once fully sprouted, these fruits can be direct seeded. Each fruit contains one seed which cannot be removed from the fruit flesh.

Sechium edule