How to manage chayote over winter?

Chayote , also known as Thousand Gold Melon and Hayabusa Melon, is distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan and other places. The fruit, tender stems and leaves, tendrils and underground tubers of chayote can all be used as dishes. In addition, chayote also has certain medicinal value. So how do you manage chayote over the winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Temperature management

Chayote prefers warm and humid climate, is afraid of cold and drought, and the most suitable growth temperature is 22℃ to 24℃. In winter, make sure the temperature of the growing environment of the chayote is not lower than 5℃ to avoid frost damage. For potted chayote, you can place it in a sunny place indoors and try to keep the indoor temperature stable. For chayote grown in the open field, the temperature can be raised by building a greenhouse or covering it with insulating materials.

2. Lighting management

Chayote needs more sunlight during the growing season. If there is insufficient light, it will affect its flowering and fruiting. In winter, although the growth rate of chayote slows down, it still needs a certain amount of light to maintain its normal physiological activities. Therefore, try to allow the chayote to receive sufficient light. You can place it on an outdoor windowsill or in a location where it can receive direct sunlight.

3. Water management

Chayote prefers a slightly moist soil environment, so the soil in the pot should be kept moist during daily maintenance. However, in winter, due to the lower temperature, the growth rate of chayote slows down and the absorption of water is reduced accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the frequency and amount of watering appropriately to avoid waterlogging in the soil and causing root rot. Generally speaking, you can water it every two or three days, but the specific frequency of watering needs to be adjusted according to soil moisture and the growth of the chayote.

4. Fertilizer management

Chayote blooms several times a year and requires more fertilizer. However, during the winter, as its growth rate slows down, the need for fertilizer also decreases accordingly. Therefore, the frequency and amount of fertilization should be appropriately reduced. Generally speaking, winter fertilizer can be applied once before the temperature drops in autumn to provide sufficient nutrients for the chayote to overwinter. In winter, if the chayote is still growing, you can apply a thin layer of compound fertilizer or phosphorus and potassium fertilizer every half a month or so to promote its healthy growth.

5. Pest and disease control

Although the temperature is lower in winter and there are relatively fewer pests and diseases, preventive work still needs to be done. You can regularly clean up the fallen leaves and weeds around the chayote to reduce the breeding of pests and diseases. At the same time, pay attention to the growth of chayote, and take timely measures to prevent and control any signs of disease and pests.

The above is an introduction to how to manage chayote over the winter. After harvesting, growers can cut off excess branches and vines, leaving only the main vine of about two meters, reducing the nutrient consumption of the above-ground part, which is conducive to the safe wintering of the chayote perennial roots.