By  Bill Nicholas

A perennial vegetable vine of the cucurbit (squash) family, the mirliton (my preferred common

name) was brought to the gulf coast from South America by the Spanish during colonization. 

This vigorous vine with squash like leaves produces an abundance of pear shaped or rounded

fruit the size of a large avocado in the late fall and early winter.  The tow types most commonly

found have either a white somewhat prickly rounded fruit, or a pear shaped pale green fruit with

or without prickles. They contain a single large seed.  The flavor is delicate and it can be used

by itself, in salads, soups, relishes and casseroles.  Many recipes can be found in regional

cookbooks.

The most difficult part of growing mirlitons is finding a start.  The entire fruit is planted as a giant seed.  Sometimes they show up in local groceries and will be most often labeled as chayote, or cayote.  When they are found, it will be from November through January.  Knowing someone who grows them is better.  They will have plenty.

Plant the fruit after danger of frost.  Often by that time a snakelike sprout will have begun to grow from the fruit.  Planting should be done in full sun in fertile, moist but well drained soil.  Submerge the seed about halfway into the soil with the other half exposed.  Keep well watered.  Some sources recommend planting two fruit together to insure better fertilization.  The plants are monoecious (male and female flowers on the same plant), but I've had productive plantings with a single plant.

The vines will branch and grow 20 feet or more so some support will be needed.  It's preferable to grow the vine on a structure of such a height as to facilitate harvesting.  A common practice in New Orleans was to build an arbor or six foot posts and cover it with hog wire.  The vines quickly cover the arbor and provide a shady patio for the summer and in the fall, the fruit hang through the wire in easy reach.

A single vine can easily produce five or more dozen fruit in a season.  After they are picked, they hold well in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Keep the vines watered during our summer dry spells.  A composted manure dressing at planting and again in July/August will boost fruit production.  In most of our winters, frost or freezes will kill the vines to the ground.  Simply remove the dead vines in late winter and wait for new growth.  In a warm winter when the vines aren't killed, cut them back to four to six feet above the ground to encourage more vigorous and manageable vines.

P.S.    I have been told that the roots of this plant are also edible after it has been growing a couple of years, but I have no personal experience with this practice.

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