Now That's A Mirliton Vine!

Eat’em–Just Don’t Plant’em! Why Grocery Store Mirlitons (chayote) Shouldn’t Be Used as Seed.

May 12, 2025

By Lance Hill and Kevin De Santiago Many people want to grow their own mirliton (chayote) vine but find it difficult to find locally grown mirlitons. Because of their frustration, some people try to grow mirlitons by purchasing and planting one from the produce...

Here Comes the Sun: How Much Sunlight Does a Mirliton Need?

May 4, 2025

Mirlitons evolved for 26,000,000 years in the full sun of the Mesoamerican mountain sides. They tolerate and flourish in both full shade and partial shade. They are “sunseekers” in the sense that they will always grow from shade to full light. You can plant them...

Thumbnail Test for Mirliton Ripeness

Apr 28, 2025

Mirlitons are typically ready to harvest when they reach approximately 8 ounces, although size and weight can vary. The most reliable method for testing for harvesting is the thumbnail test. Start by pushing on the fruit skin with your thumbnail. If the fruit skin...

How Can I Plant Spring Mirlitons?

Apr 23, 2025

The spring harvest of mirlitons has increased in recent years due to advancements in growing techniques. The question is: How do we plant them? There are two options: container-grown plants or planting them directly in the soil. First, in either case, the...

Using a Bamboo Stake to Test Soil Moisture

Apr 12, 2025

I realize that this sounds like a strange idea, but experienced container plant experts have been using wooden skewers and chopsticks to gauge soil moisture for years. The principle is simple; moist particles of soil adhere to the wood. A clean skewer means the soil...

How to test compost and manure for herbicide residue

Mar 27, 2025

Many gardeners attribute plant failure to manure or compost that may have been contaminated with Grazon or other herbicides. A professional laboratory test is too expensive for the average gardener, but there is a simple, inexpensive test you can do at home. You can...

Managing Spider Mites and Mealybugs

Mar 21, 2025

Spider mites and mealybugs tend to plague mirlitons that are planted in containers, especially when kept indoors during overwintering. You can manage mealybugs by soaking a cotton swab with 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and...

Secure Your Vine From Winds and Hurricanes With Netting

Mar 17, 2025

Strong winds and hurricanes can shred a mirliton vine and stress it enough to delay or even stop flowering. Michelle Impastato Glore discovered an ingenious way to inexpensively and quickly protect the vine from winds: netting. It's the most effective way to...

Quick Guide for Growing Mirlitons

Mar 8, 2025

Mirliton is the Haitian-French word for the Louisiana chayote (Sechium edule) vine that originated in Mexico and Central America. Haitians brought it to Louisiana in the 19th century, and it evolved over 200 years, adapting to the climate, altitude, and...

The Ideal Raised Bed: Deep and Wide

Feb 14, 2025

Many people's yards have poor soil or soil with inadequate drainage which makes mirliton growing difficult. Either their soil gets overly saturated or has a high clay content and does not drain well. Raised beds are the solution. But growing mirlitons in a raised bed...

Now That’s A Mirliton Vine!

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