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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 11, 2014 4:47:41 GMT -5
raymondo I suppose in pear-shaped objects I think of the bottom being the bigger end, but I believe in this case when you say plant the bottom you are meaning the smaller, pointed end? templeton Ha! I haven't even tasted one yet. But I'm game for experimenting in making it more palatable with different cooking techniques and sauces. I do have a sturdy welded pole and wire fence that surrounds the place and find the fruit intriguing. I figure it might add some visual interest as well as food security.
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Post by raymondo on Apr 11, 2014 16:18:48 GMT -5
raymondo I suppose in pear-shaped objects I think of the bottom being the bigger end, but I believe in this case when you say plant the bottom you are meaning the smaller, pointed end? ... No, I do mean the fatter end, the end where the root will emerge. Just push it into the soil a little, with the beginning shoot able to see light, more or less. Usually, both shoot and root emerge from the fat end, not through a split on the side, but if that's what's happening, take advantage.
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Post by steev on Apr 11, 2014 20:54:16 GMT -5
Right; it's all about the seed, the fruit being no more involved than the husk of an almond.
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Post by zeedman on Apr 14, 2014 16:18:47 GMT -5
sam orr, [pseudonym of Richard Beckett]a food critic and irrascible garden writer wrote in The Gourmet's Garden that a choko would rapidily grow up the trellis, smother the clothes line, over the roof of the shed, and into the neighbour's gum tree, thankfully putting the fruit well out of reach. He didn't hold it in high regard. While I disagree with his assessment of the taste, he certainly knew the growth habit... mine did pretty much what he described when I grew it in San Jose, crossing the fence & encroaching on the neighbor's shrubbery. The vines look like a mutant Franken-cucumber on steroids. The lush foliage is fairly attractive on a trellis, though. Flowerweaver (don't know how to tag?) your chayote is sprouting, although they usually do so from the end, not the side. When sprouting from the end, the recommendation is to plant with big end down, at a 45 degree angle, buried about half way. For yours, make sure the sprout is facing up.
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Post by flowerweaver on Apr 15, 2014 11:38:58 GMT -5
zeedman to tag someone you just type an @ symbol in front of their screen name and it will set up the tag. I planted the oddball chayote yesterday in a pot as instructed. I placed the rotting side down since the sprout is growing away from it, and is therefore pointing upwards. I have had the same growth habit with Luffa, reeling it in off the neighbor's tree and roof. So I won't be planting it on that side of the fence. I am needing to screen something on the other side; how well would the vine work for that? I suspect it will quickly climb to the top rail and then run, but will it put off branches that will hang down or cover the wire fence?
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Post by zeedman on Apr 15, 2014 17:06:29 GMT -5
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Post by steev on Apr 15, 2014 20:57:27 GMT -5
I don't recall whether it dropped pendant vines, but the one I grew certainly ate the 60' clothesline it grew on, producing far more fruit than I wanted. I think it was posted that the tender shoots are palatable, but I've never tried that; couldn't hurt to curb the things somehow.
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