During my younger years, I was a fussy eater, but that did not stop my mother from making me try all sorts of vegetables.
Back then, I would dread the days my mother tried to feed me some obscure vegetable I had never heard of. But, she would ensure I ate my greens and fruits in the form of a salad, a curry, or even juice. In hindsight, I am glad she did, as it has kept me healthy even in my 50s.
One of the dishes I distinctly remember was a soup made with chayote squash. It was one of my favorites as it had a mix of veggies and meat. Last year, in an attempt to recreate the dish, I started growing chayote squashes. And that brings me to the purpose of this guide.
Hi there! My name is Stacy, and today I’m going to give you some information on chayote squash and tips on growing it. If you have green fingers and want to add another very nutritious vegetable to your veggie garden, this is the guide to peruse.
Time is of the essence, so let’s get right to it!
If you are a bit confused about what a chayote squash is in the first place, let me clear that up for you. Chayote squash is a type of squash that looks a little bit like a pear and can often be mistaken for a fruit. In fact, it can be classified as a fruit but is mainly consumed like any other vegetable (similar to tomatoes).
In terms of texture, chayote squash is much like a pear. It has a satisfying crunch and is mild in flavor, making it easy to cook. This fruit has been around for a long time and is quite popular in Latin America, particularly Mexico.
Considering that chayote squash comes from the gourd family, it is safe to assume it is packed with goodness. Here are a few benefits chayote squash offers:
One of the reasons chayote squash is so healthy is that it is rich in antioxidants and nutrients essential to the body. It has multiple vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and even vitamin B9, among many others.
In addition, it supplies the body with quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and morin. These antioxidants ensure your body remains strong and can fight against cancer and diabetes.
Considering how nutritional it is, it is no secret that this squash might help improve overall health. There is a chance that it can improve heart health and keep blood pressure under control.
As we mentioned, vitamin B9 is a crucial ingredient in chayote squash. This makes it ideal for an expecting mother as the said vitamin is vital during the early stages of pregnancy. And what better than to get it in a safe and natural way.
One of the prime qualities of chayote squash is that it is pretty filling but contains less calories. This is why it is the perfect fruit to snack on if you are looking to lose weight. Since it has a lot of fiber, it will keep you full and help maintain a healthy digestive system.
One of the reasons my mother started to grow this in the backyard was because it was tasty and easy to grow. Moreover, they are perennials and can be replanted every year.
Now, coming to the highlight of this article - growing chayote squash. An interesting thing about this squash is that the seed does not grow separately from the fruit. So, to get a new batch, you will need one whole chayote squash. Now, let’s take a look at the subsequent steps you need to take:
Firstly, buy a good quality and healthy-looking chayote and store it in a cool, dry place. In about two to three weeks, a slender stem will start to grow.
Once the stem is growing, you can either grow it in water or the soil. If you want to grow it in water, put the fruit in a container big enough to hold all of it. Completely submerge it in water and store it in a space that gets indirect sunlight. Furthermore, change the water every day.
Alternatively, if you want to grow it in soil, wait till the stem is long enough to be visible on the ground before burying it. After that, bury just the fruit in the soil with compost and water it at least thrice a week.
Once the wine is growing, it is essential to look after it for healthy growth. So, make sure the fruit is growing near a wall the vine can hold on to. I had a wooden grill behind the fruit and would guide it through once it was long enough, which seemed to help.
Keep in mind that it will take about 90 days for the plant to produce fruits and flowers. So, be patient and keep taking care of the plant every day.
Do not harvest the fruit as soon as it comes. Give it time to become around ten cm long and turn light green in color. That is when it is ready to be consumed. Remember that while plucking, the squash should not feel overly hard or soft but rather just firm.
If questions like how to grow chayote squash or how nutritional chayote squash is have kept you up at night, I hope this guide has cleared things up.
Before leaving, I would like to advise you not to put pressure on the vine while cutting the fruit off. Make sure it is pulled out carefully with no damage to the vine. And also, wear gloves as the plant sap might irritate the skin.
On that note, I shall now sign off and try to recreate my mother’s recipe for the 100th time. And remember, it only looks complicated to grow, but it’s not, so don’t “squash” your dreams of a healthy harvest just yet!
Until next time.
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