CHOKO VINE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 195, 3 September 1937, Page 13

CHOKO VINE

Perhaps no vegetable calls for such little, cultural attention or responds with such bountiful crops as the choko i;Seehium Edule). Of late years this useful plant has come into great prolumence, due largely to its extreinely casy culture and phenomenal liberality. The Mexican name for this vegetable is "Chayotte." In the West Indies it is callcd "Chocho," which is the uearest approacli to tho New Zealand cpvruption ' ' choko. ' ' It is a climbing vine, produciug an lmmense quantity of light green foiiage, and it is of very vigorous growth. The choko enjoys the distinction of being the most prolific bearer among the Curcurbitaeae, from which it differs only that it has one seed. It is very easily propagated by planting the whole fruit. When the seed has germinated, a plumule or sprout emerges from between the cotyledons, and this sprout will continue green for a very long time, even when lying unburied. Almost any soil suits its purpose, but when given a warm, eunny position in conjunction with well enriched soil, its cropping qualities are nothing short of remarkable. So prolific is it in somo districts that it is grown in large quantities for feeding dairy cattle, pigs, etc. But it is well worthy of inelusion among the very limited variety of garden vegetables. For the home plot the ideal support wonld bo an outhouse of somo similar construetion with lattieed roof where tho fruit eiuild hang down between. Fences and fowlhouses also alford useful support, and tbe wealth of fo-

liago it prodnices, which, cannot be described as unsightly, constitutes an excellent summer shelter or screen. The fruit, which is borno in great numbers, should be pieked for table when young and tender} and cooked similarly to squashes or marrows. The choko requires no particular cultivation, but, like most plants, responds to any manurial treatment bestowed upon it by more bountiful yields. One plant is quile sufliciont to meet the requlrements of an average family. Indeed, from a single plant, as many as 400 chokos have been gathered. Plant the choko on its side about six inclies below the surface in a well manu red pateh of deeply-dug soil. There are two varieties — green and white. ■