CHOKO - White

***NOT TAS, WA***  (Sechium edule)  Rare heirloom from Mexico.  Also known as 'Chayote' or 'Vegetable Pear'.  Perennial.  Annual in cooler areas.  Large, light cream, pear shaped fruit with delicate, nutty flavour.  Similar to green variety with only real difference being colour.  Commonly used in pickles & chutneys.  With added sweetener makes a good substitute for apples & pears in cooked dishes. Dried vines may be used for basket weaving & roots of 3-4 year old plants may also be eaten with flavour resembling sweet potato.  Shoots & tendrils may be used to add interest to stir-fry & salads.  Harvest whole fruits when young at 4-5cm for eating raw or leave to mature until 10-15cm long.  In frost areas, allow fruit to shoot indoors then plant in Spring (after last frost) with whole fruit on side & stem only out of soil.   In frost-free areas, bulb may be planted any time.  Plant whole fruit on side until half covered with soil.  Do not fully cover as bulb may rot.  Protect plants from hot winds & frosts.  

1 Bulb