Sicyos

( SIK - ee - ohs )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of vining plants includes species commonly known as Burr Cucumbers, Christophine or Chayote. Plants form large vines with green foliage and produce edible fruits that are cultivated worldwide. Grow Sicyos plants on strong trellises or arbors that can support the weight of the vine and developing fruits.

Sicyos Species and Varietals

The genus Sicyos is a member of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, and includes 64 species. The best growing zones for Sicyos plants vary depending on the species grown. For more growing information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Sicyos albus (Sicyos alba) (Anunu, White Bur-Cucumber)
This species is endemic to the Island of Hawai'i, and is considered threatened due to habitat destruction and competition from introduced, aggressive species. It forms a vining, herbaceous plant that can reach up to 66 feet long. Stems are spotted with black, and flowers are white. Fruits are white.

Sicyos angulatus (Oneseed Bur Cucumber, Star-Cucumber)
These annual vines are native to eastern North America, and forms mats of foliage or climbs structures using tendrils. Leaves are palmate and green, and flowers are green to yellow-green. Vines are considered invasive in many areas around the world, and are difficult to control due to their prolific seed production.

Sicyos edulis (Sechium edule) (Chayote, Christophine, Mirliton, Choko, Chuchu, Sou-Sou, Vegetable Pear)
This species, native to Mesoamerica, is cultivated for its edible fruits. They are commonly used cooked, as summer squash. Raw Chayote can be added to salsas or salads, and is also marinated in lemon or lime juice. These plants have a vining, sprawling habit and requires a lot of room to grow well. 120-150 DTM.

Caring for Sicyos

Sicyos plants are typically grown from seed; they are not widely available at nurseries. They need a structure to climb; it is not recommended to grow these vines as sprawling plants, as fruits tend to rot and have their seeds germinate when they touch soil. Choose a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, these vines like to get between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for best production. Sow seeds between 3 and 4 weeks after the last frost date of your area. The soil temperature should be above 65 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination results. Many people choose to plant the entire fruit, though seeds can also be sown. Set the entire fruit between 4 and 6 inches deep with the fat end down and at an angle so that the stem end is level with the soil surface. Seeds can be sown about 10 feet apart for best coverage and airflow. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these vines appreciate consistently moist soils in order to support active growth, flowering, and fruit production in spring, summer, and early fall. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any point in the growing season. Ensure that maturing fruit is not touching soil, as they will soil and germinate while still attached to the vine. Sicyos vines are perennial plants, but are most commonly grown as annuals; at the end of the growing season in your area, pull plants and compost them.

Growing Sicyos In Containers
It is not recommended to grow these vines in containers, as they do not produce as much fruit. However, if you live in an area that does not have the required frost-free growing days (between 120 and 150), growing in a container can allow for a longer harvesting season if plants are moved indoors. Choose a container that is at least 24 inches deep, and provide a trellis or other structure for the vine to climb. Fill the container with well-draining soil amended with plenty of compost and organic material. Apply a layer of mulch to the top of the soil surface to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Chayote vines grown in pots will need more frequent waterings than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, and maintain a good covering of mulch.

Harvesting and Storing Sicyos Fruits
The most common Sicyos species grown for its fruits is Sicyos edulis (Chayote). These productive vines are commonly grown as crop plants in backyard edible or vegetable gardens; a single Chayote plant can provide enough fruits for a family of four. Chayote fruits are typically ready to be harvested when they reach their mature size, which is between 4 and 6 inches in diameter. This occurs between 120 and 150 days after sowing seeds. Cut fruits from the vine with sharp, clean garden shears or scissors. Rinse the fruit to remove any dust or debris, and then dry them. Chayote will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week; if fruits are diced, they can be frozen or canned for up to 1 year.

Propagation

Sicyos, or Chayote, vines are typically propagated via sowing seed, but they can also be propagated by cuttings. To propagate your Chayote vine, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sicyos by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Sicyos plants are held within green fruits. After fruits have matured on the vine (which typically occurs between 120 and 150 days after sowing), they can be harvested and cut open to remove seeds. Alternatively, some gardeners choose to plant the entire fruit in the ground, which does not require cutting it open.
Plants can either be direct-sown in the garden or started indoors. These are tropical plants, and do not do well when exposed to cool temperatures, so to extend the growing season, many gardeners in temperate zones will start seeds indoors to give them a fighting chance. Sow seeds about an inch under the soil surface and cover them with a light dusting of soil. Sicyos seeds typically take between 15 and 140 days to germinate depending on soil conditions. They germinate best at soil temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until springtime after the last frost of the season has passed by, when you can transplant it out into the garden.

Propagating Sicyos by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new vine.