When to plant chayote

Tender · frost kills it

Chayoteis keyed to your local frost dates. The offsets below hold anywhere — but the calendar dates they land on don’t. Enter your ZIP for dates tuned to your city’s nearest NOAA station.

Chayote planting timeline

Transplant out

2–3 wks after

Harvest

120–150 days later

-1 wksLAST SPRING FROST+24 wks

Perennial: plant once and it comes back for years. Many types crop lightly the first season and reach full harvest by year two or three.

Tender: wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting out.

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Chayote planting FAQ

Can I direct sow chayote?

Chayote is usually started indoors and transplanted rather than direct sown, for a reliable stand.

How long does chayote take to grow?

Chayote takes about 120–150 days from transplanting to harvest, depending on the variety and conditions.

Is chayote frost-hardy?

Tender: wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting out.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in your area

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to your frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

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Planting windows are offsets from your local 1991–2020 NOAA frost normals. How we compute this.