Chokos (aka chayote, from Mexico), are they the answer to world hunger and climate change? Well, maybe that's stretching it a bit far! However, chokos are probably one of the easiest and most productive vegies (although it is technically a fruit) you can grow in Australia.
They are in the cucurbit family and have a similar taste and texture to squash and zuchinni. It has high levels of amino acids and vitamin C. We found out about them when we were over east a few years back and have been trying to get seeds ever since. Then we found out that they don't grow from seed but from the fruit itself. I've never come across it in Perth. We went down south a few weeks ago and saw some at the Manjimup farmer's markets, so we bought a couple. One has started to sprout so it'll go in the ground soon. We've decided to rip out our perennially disappointing passion fruit and use its trelissing to grow the choko up.
Ok, it's not the prettiest thing around and lots of people dismiss it as only good for animal fodder but I actually like it, especially if you pick it small. That's when it's sweetest. It is perennial and doesn't suffer from mildew apparently, unlike the zuchinni which can be a pain to grow.
If it's a winner we plan to tell everybody in WA about it to spread the word. We'll report back on its progress.
I have been growing these for the last few years and give spares to anyone and everyone. Save the world, one choko at a time. I took a couple of dozen to the Waroona Really Really Free Markets last Saturday and they all went quite quickly.
ReplyDeleteMost of mine are now falling off and quite a few are sprouting already.
Barb.
I don't particularly care for the taste, but they are so easy to grow, and the cattle like them, so an excellent survival food (I would eat them if I didn't have anything else!)
ReplyDeletei planted chokos at Christmas in Kempsey NSW mainly so the dogs couldnt see the neighbours and bark at them. Since then the local paper published a snippet from 100 years ago when they were first introduced to the Macleay Valley where we live. Since then lots of 'aunties" have been giving us great recipes and suggestions!
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