Susu (Chayote) is a type of vegetable fruit widely cultivated in northern Vietnam. Chayote can be grown for both its shoots and its fruit, making it highly favored by local farmers. With the correct cultivation techniques, chayote can yield high productivity.
Simple Guide to Growing Chayote at Home
Chayote prefers cooler climates, has unisexual flowers, and relies on pollination from bees and butterflies. If not planted in the correct season or cared for properly, the fruit yield will be low. Below are some methods and techniques for cultivating chayote effectively to help farmers achieve the highest productivity.
Proper cultivation techniques for chayote can yield high productivity
Growing Season for Chayote
The best time to plant chayote is in the ninth lunar month to harvest fruits from December to early March of the following year. Planting too early (in August) or too late (in October or November) may result in unfavorable weather conditions for fruit set, leading to lower yields.
Soil Preparation, Fertilizing, and Planting
Soil suitable for cucumbers is also good for chayote, prepared similarly to growing gourds. Chayote is planted using seeds that have sprouted. Good seeds are large, evenly shaped, with hard spines and healthy buds.
Choose large, healthy seeds with strong buds for good planting
Dig holes 80-100 cm wide and 40-50 cm deep, adding plenty of organic matter and fertilizer into the hole, and let it rest for about a week before placing the seeds down. The holes should be dug in straight lines, spaced 2.5-3.0 meters apart. Each hole should be filled with 10-15 kg of manure and 1 kg of super phosphate and 1 kg of potassium sulfate (not including additional organic matter).
Plant 3-4 seeds in each hole, spaced 30-40 cm apart, then cover with soil, leaving only the buds exposed. For one hectare, approximately 250-360 kg of seeds should be planted to ensure a density of 1,000-1,500 plants per hectare.
Caring for Chayote Plants
The care for chayote is quite simple and includes the following steps: Shade the seeds immediately after planting. Check after germination to avoid spacing issues. Once the plants have grown evenly, set up a trellis similar to that for gourds, about 1.8-2 meters high. When the chayote reaches about 1-1.5 meters in length, provide support for the plants to climb the trellis.
Arrange and train the vines evenly, and absolutely do not prune the tops of chayote like you would with gourds. When the plants climb the trellis, also mound soil around the base of the chayote plants.
Fertilize chayote in two stages: When the plants first reach the trellis, use fertilizer to water around the base to encourage root expansion. A layer of river mud or sludge can also be applied to the surface of the bed. When harvesting, apply liquid fertilizer or nitrogen-rich fertilizers mixed with potassium to make the fruit glossy and firm, preventing fruit drop.
Encouraging Chayote for More Shoots and Fruit
You should fertilize chayote in two following stages: the first stage when the plant just reaches the trellis, using fertilizer to water around the base to allow roots to spread. The second stage, at harvest time, fertilize with liquid fertilizer or nitrogen mixed with potassium to ensure firm fruit and prevent drop. Additionally, fertilizing after flowering helps retain young fruits and provides nutrients for the plant to support fruit growth.
When the main shoots of the plant reach about 2 meters in length, pinch the tips and prune weaker branches. When the plant bears fruit, apply supplementary fertilizer and trim old leaves to ensure high-quality fruit.
Pest and Disease Control for Chayote
When chayote reaches about 0.5 meters in height, it is often affected by aphids that curl the tips. Early detection and treatment are necessary for healthy growth; otherwise, the plants may become stunted and branch prematurely, resulting in fewer fruits. Stinging insects can damage fruit and reduce yields by up to 60%, so various measures to control stinging insects should be employed. The trellis should be kept low, and insect repellent products may also be necessary.
Caring for and controlling pests is crucial in chayote cultivation
Harvesting Chayote
Harvest chayote when it reaches maturity, typically every 5-7 days. Harvest when the fruit is firm and the skin appears glossy. The average yield is 30-50 tons per hectare (1-1.7 tons per sao).
Preserving Chayote Seeds
Currently, there are two areas in Vietnam for preserving chayote seeds: The lowland areas grow chayote in the winter-spring season for seed gathering in May. The seeds are soaked in a mixture of soil and fertilizer (7 parts soil, 1 part fertilizer) in baskets or wooden boxes placed in ventilated areas, with only 5-6 seeds per basket or box. This mixture is kept until August or September for planting.
Alternatively, chayote can be allowed to die back, mound soil around the base, and cut the vines back to about 2 meters, then encircle the base with a basket and mound soil over it to keep the roots warm through winter. In regions with a cool climate like Sa Pa, Tam Dao, and Lang Son, chayote produces fruit in summer, while in winter (from October onwards), the plants die back. In these areas, the seeds are preserved by cutting the vines, leaving 2 meters near the base, encircling the base with a basket, and covering them with a soil mixture to protect them through the winter.
In spring, around March when the weather warms up, chayote will sprout and regenerate. Loosen the soil and fertilize before guiding the vines to the trellis. By June, fruits will be ready for harvesting until August, and by October, the chayote will be mature enough to use as new seeds for lowland areas that cannot preserve seeds.
Benefits of Chayote
Weight Management
Chayote is high in fiber but low in calories, making it beneficial for weight management. Fiber slows digestion and helps the body feel full longer, which can reduce overall food intake.
Enhancing Digestive Health
Chayote is rich in fiber and flavonoid compounds that can enhance digestive function by increasing beneficial bacteria and stabilizing gut activity. Additionally, it supports the activity of digestive enzymes, helping to eliminate and excrete waste from the intestines.
Supporting Liver Function
Extracts from chayote can reduce fat accumulation in the liver and support the treatment and prevention of fatty liver disease. Thus, incorporating chayote into the diet is essential for improving liver health.
Good for Pregnant Women
Chayote is rich in vitamin B9, which is beneficial for pregnant women as it supports brain and spinal cord development. Additionally, chayote helps ensure the health of the fetus and prevents premature birth.
Cancer Prevention
Chayote contains many antioxidant compounds that can help prevent and combat various types of cancer, including gastrointestinal cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia.
Slowing Down Aging
Chayote is very rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which help slow down the aging process. Furthermore, vitamin C contributes to collagen production, making skin smoother and reducing wrinkles and age spots.
