Chilacayote Squash
Chilacayote Squash is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Syn. Malabar gourd, chiverre. Widely grown as a vegetable in Mexico and South America. It grows like a pumpkin vine to 15m long and forms roots in the leaf nodes. The melon-like fruit are large, round, green with white speckles. Highly productive vines produce fruit that can weigh up to 6kg. The flowers, leaves and tender shoots are used as greens. Young fruit are eaten cooked, mature fruit are used in jams and confectionery. The protein-rich seeds are very nutritious. Vines are very hardy and disease resistant; the fruit stores for many months.
Product: Chilacayote Squash
Product type: SEED (10)
Botanical name: Cucurbita ficifolia
Syn.: Syn. Shark Fin's Melon
Syn. Malabar gourd, chiverre. Widely grown as a vegetable in Mexico and South America. It grows like a pumpkin vine to 15m long and forms roots in the leaf nodes. The melon-like fruit are large, round, green with white speckles. Highly productive vines produce fruit that can weigh up to 6kg. The flowers, leaves and tender shoots are used as greens. Young fruit are eaten cooked, mature fruit are used in jams and confectionery. The protein-rich seeds are very nutritious. Vines are very hardy and disease resistant; the fruit stores for many months.
Plant type: Frost tender, fast growing vine, perennial in the tropics
Sow when: Germinate best at 25°C soil temp.
Temperate: Annual only, start early spring
Subtropical: Spring to early autumn
Tropical: Dry season
Germination: 15 - 30 days
Depth: 3 cm deep
Position: Full sun
Sow where: Direct into soil at the base of the trellis
Soil type: Fertile, well drained, pH 6 - 7.5
Details: Keep it away from young trees and structures as it will climb readily
Harvest: 80 - 120 days
10 seeds per packet
Cucurbita ficifolia
Syn. Shark Fin's Melon
Frost tender, fast growing vine, perennial in the tropics
Chilacayote Squash
Syn. Malabar gourd, chiverre. Widely grown as a vegetable in Mexico and South America. It grows like a pumpkin vine to 15m long and forms roots in the leaf nodes. The melon-like fruit are large, round, green with white speckles. Highly productive vines produce fruit that can weigh up to 6kg. The flowers, leaves and tender shoots are used as greens. Young fruit are eaten cooked, mature fruit are used in jams and confectionery. The protein-rich seeds are very nutritious. Vines are very hardy and disease resistant; the fruit stores for many months.