Thorny Squash - Chayote - White with Thorns (Sechium edule)

Thorny Chayote Squash (Sechium edule) - Green Variety with Thorns

 In Italy, where it is highly prized and sought after, this plant is known by several names: Centenary Zucchini , Wolf's Tongue , Spiny Potato , Spiny Eggplant, and other local names. The White Chayote with thorns is a more domesticated variety than the wild one (green with thorns, but still less than the thornless variety). Hardy and productive, it stands out for its flavor: less vegetal than the others, more "potato-like," it is also tender, and the seed inside the fruit has an excellent flavor. It is the least known variety, but undoubtedly the most appreciated by chefs and the most sophisticated cuisines.
Cultivation is no different from the others, support is important, also good soil and avoid water stagnation, then you will have an amazing harvest.
If you want to reproduce the seeds, collect them before germination, which often occurs while the fruit is still on the plant.

 Native to Central and South America , where it grows as a perennial species (see cultivation section), Chayote stands out for its rapid growth and vigorous plant , ideal for covering pergolas or fences.

 Although it is not particularly widespread in Italy, especially on a commercial level, it is part of traditional culinary memory , especially in the South, where it is known and cooked in many different ways.

 From a botanical point of view, the plant owes part of its success to its particular characteristics: during the winter the aerial part dries up, but the root remains vital and in spring it sends out new shoots for many years. This is where the epithet " centenary " comes from. Furthermore, it is a very productive species and its fruits keep well during the winter .

 Seed conservation

 To preserve the seed it is necessary to keep the fruit whole .
The innermost part of the Chayote contains the embryo and the actual botanical seed of the plant, while the surrounding pulp represents a reserve of nutrients for the seed itself (a condition called viviparity ).
In practice, the entire fruit – internal and external – constitutes the seed in the horticultural sense of the plant.

 Cultivation and shipping

 Being a climbing plant, it requires adequate support to allow it to grow in height.
⚠️ Attention: due to the weight of the fruit/seed , shipping will only be via courier .

 ⚠️ Please note: the fruit is edible (produced by us, organic certification can be requested), however, it is grown in isolation to prevent hybridization, it is harvested before germination can occur on the plant, and treated with the same care as for seeds. Therefore, we recommend using it for sowing, especially since you can find Chayote for consumption on the market at lower prices (the seed is subject to a 10% VAT, while the consumption tax is 4%).