Look up mirliton in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the chayote to point directly to the intended article.
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Native to Mexico, this plant has been introduced to many other countries for its edible fruits, tubers, shoots and leaves. The fruits have a slightly nutty flavour and a soft texture when cooked, and are high in vitamins, minerals, fibre and many others. Unlike most other members of the Cucurbitaceae family, the seed of the chayote will refuse to grow if it is separated from the fruit. So, in order to grow it, you first have to buy a fruit yourself. There are many varieties of chayote, including those with spines and those which are spineless. If you don’t want to be pricked by a spiny fruit, wear gloves or select a spineless one.
Leave your chayote in a sunny place away from all factors that could induce mouldiness or rotting. Within a week or two a slender green shoot should emerge from the end opposite from the attached stem. Choose to plant the entire fruit into soil or grow it further in water. To continue growing it in water, place the sprouted chayote into a jar big enough for the fruit to fit. Fill the jar with water until the water has almost completely submerged the fruit. Place the jar in a sunny place out of prolonged direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to prevent dirty water from initiating rot.