Chayote - Mexican In Cucumber Beds

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Lovers of exotic gardening may like this guest from Latin America. In addition to the original appearance, it is very productive: its fruits, tubers, stems, and even seeds are also eaten. And you can grow it in an ordinary greenhouse along with cucumbers

Heat-loving and "thorny"

It is often referred to as the Mexican cucumber as it also belongs to the glorious pumpkin family. The ancient tribes of the Maya and Aztecs knew about it. And Central America is considered to be his homeland. It is now most widely cultivated in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica (an important supplier of this vegetable), Panama and other Latin American countries. He likes the climate of the tropics and subtropics.

Its sonorous name is translated from Aztec as "pumpkin with thorns". Indeed, its pear-shaped berries are covered with small whitish spines. At the beginning of the twentieth century, chayote was brought to Russia, but it took root here poorly because of its thermophilicity. However, enthusiastic gardeners have nevertheless adapted to grow this exotic in their greenhouses and on window sills, even in the middle lane. It takes root especially well in the southern regions and in the Transcaucasus.

In the third year, the roots are also edible

The Mexican cucumber, unlike ordinary cucumbers, is a perennial plant. In addition to the original pear-shaped fruits with a delicate taste, you can get small nodules from it, which are formed on its roots in the third year. They somewhat taste like potatoes. In the homeland of the vegetable, they are very much appreciated for their nutritional and beneficial properties. Outwardly, the plant is very similar to a cucumber: almost the same curly stems, tenacious heart-shaped leaves.

The flowers, however, are not yellowish, but closer to cream or greenish shades. Male flowers gather in racemose inflorescences, while female flowers grow singly. But the most remarkable are the fruits of the plant - round, pear-shaped (up to 20 cm in length and up to 1 kg). They are covered with a thin, shiny and rather strong skin with longitudinal grooves. Most often, their color, like that of cucumbers, is green, but there are also white and yellowish specimens. When cut, only one white oval seed can be found. Light green pulp - very juicy, with a specific, sweetish taste (reminiscent of zucchini) - is rich in vitamins C, B1 and B2, and, like the tubers of a plant, is saturated with starch.

Almost all will be eaten

From one plant you can get up to 400-500 "cucumber pears" weighing up to 300g, and tubers as much as 50kg. Because of such a yield, chayote is in high esteem in its homeland. Its fruits are used for the preparation of sauces, salads, first and second courses, preparations. The nodules are mainly boiled, fried or baked. Since raw, like potatoes, they are not very tasty. But they have more than enough medicinal properties: they have diuretic, diaphoretic effects, useful for cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, for removing kidney stones, etc.

Young plant stems are also suitable for food. Latin Americans use them like asparagus. And from more mature, peeled shoots, wonderful hats and handbags are obtained. Even single plant seeds are edible. They are fried and crushed. They have a slight nutty flavor.

Planted with the fruit

Since chayote has only one large seed, which, moreover, loses its germination after being removed from the pulp, they plant it (usually in February or March) on seedlings right with the fruit. This should be done at a slight slope, deepening the fruit with the wide part down and leaving its crown slightly above the soil. Before planting, the land should be thoroughly loosened, fertilized and moistened. It is possible to immediately place the seed in the greenhouse - in the middle lane the most suitable time for this is the beginning of June, and in the South - the end of April or the beginning of May.

When planting seedlings, keep in mind that enough space is needed for one plant (up to 1m2). Like creeping cucumber cousins, chayote needs trellis support. It also reacts actively to fertilizing - organic and mineral. Half-meter plants are usually pinched, leaving up to three shoots. To avoid the formation of rot on the roots, chayote is watered with warm water.

For the winter you need a "fur coat"

With good care, it grows quite quickly. But for the early formation of fruits, it is necessary to regularly cut off non-fruiting shoots. Like any southerner, Mexican cucumber loves the sun very much. So even if you plan to have it on your windowsill, choose the sunny side.

Harvesting takes place until frost. The fruits are well stored in a cool basement (up to 10C) until next spring. In the open field in our climate, chayote winters poorly and often perishes. But if you cover him with a "fur coat" of sawdust, straw, etc., then he will successfully spend his winter hut even in a greenhouse without heating.