How To Plant A Distressed Mirliton In Hot Weather

by | Apr 21, 2012 | Mirliton | 0 comments

Mirlitons (Sechium edule) in the United States south have two main fruiting seasons that begin after the spring and fall equinox, which generally means flowering begins in May for several weeks and again in October until December.  The plant initiates flowering in response to leaf signals when leaves detect equal periods of light and darkness (photoperiodism).  This stimulus is combined with temperature changes (thermoperiodism) in the fall: a cold snap after the equinox can help stimulate flowering.  Spring crops are normally much smaller than the fall crop.

This early crop has created an opportunity to use the winter/spring fruit for seed. But these cool-weather mirlitons can be a little cranky if panted in hot weather.

Spring fruit can be used as seed but must be planted using special methods.  The goal is to get the sprouts into the ground as soon as possible so they can develop a root structure sufficient to meet the water needs of the top growth when temperatures reach 90 °F as early as May.   Unlike containerized plants or seeds that were planted the previous fall, these sprouts begin the summer with no root structure.

Spring fruit should be allowed to mature for at least three weeks on the vine and meet the “thumbnail test”: press your thumbnail into the skin and if the fruit flesh is soft and the nail leaves a dent, then the fruit is not ready to pick.  Also if you are familiar with the heirloom variety that you are growing, you will know the average size of a mature fruit.  The fruit must be mature to be able to germinate and sprout.

Hot Weather Planting of Sprouts:

During normal growing cycles, the fruit may not be ready to pick until late May and won’t sprout until June or later.  Temperatures over 90°F. can suppress shoot and root development and dehydrate the seed fruit that is exposed to the sun.  I’ve done that in the past–planted a sprout in June and watched it sit there and do nothing. When I excavated it, I saw how distressed the seed had become by the scorching sun. Instead of coming up, the shoot stayed below ground and wound in a circle.

So sprout-planting in May and June should be done as you normally would, but place a milk crate over the planted sprout and cover it with shade cloth. This will protect it from the intense solar heat.  The milk crate will also protect the mirlitons from squirrels and other rodents that like tender young fruit.

Once the shoot begins to grow, you can remove the crate and stake the vine.

 

 

 

 

Recent Posts

Become a Cool-Season Mirliton Grower!

We have a problem. Anyone growing mirlitons for the past few years knows that if the heat waves don’t get your vines, the hurricanes will. The weather has changed, and the forecast is that it will only get worse- more heat waves and hurricanes. But we have a solution....

How to Plant a Spring Sprout to Prepare for a Fall Planting

Here’s a proven method of planting a spring sprout that you got too late for ground planting. Homer Baham told us about this simple method of container planting the mirliton for the summer and transplanting it into the ground in the fall.  Then he mulches it for the...

Why Are My Mirliton Leaves Turning Yellow?

Yellowing of a few leaves on a mirliton vine is normal and not necessarily caused by anything the grower did wriong. It’s usually caused by the stress of widely fluctuating soil moisture--intensive rains and droughts. You can’t control rain.  Adding fertilizers won’t...

Mirliton Water Uptake Root Diagram

Mirliton Root Structure: The roots extend about 12” deep. This diagram shows water uptake in increments of 4" and you can see that 70% of the water uptake occurs in the top 8".  There are shallow, superficial roots that extend laterally for up to 6 feet, but they only...

How To Grow a Mirliton in a Container on the Gulf Coast

Many people don’t have access to yard space, so they are attempting to grow mirlitons in containers. That’s difficult to do along the Gulf Coast--but not impossible. In 2020, James Cobb in Houma, Louisiana, was the first person I knew of who grew a mirliton to...

Made In the Shade

  In 2023, we learned that mirlitons need partial shade when there is prolonged, intensive heat above 95 degrees.  That, along with substantial ground irrigation, can get us through another Heat Dome.    If you are not lucky enough to have natural shade, a...

How to Use a Soil Sampler to Prevent Watering Problems in Mirlitons

The soil sampler is the simplest way to see how much moisture your mirliton roots are getting. It's the only quick, inexpensive way to see if you have over-watered or under-watered your vine.  The "second knuckle" method of sticking your finger into the soil only...

Preventing Cross-Pollination in Mirliton Varieties

There are no scientific studies on cross-pollination in mirlliton varieties, so we can't speak with any certainty about the chances of cross-pollination. Mirlitons are self-pollinating plants and are primarily pollinated by bees.  Honey bees are systematic foragers;...

Mirliton Seed Online Store

  Lee Flynn created and manages the Mirliton Seed Online Store, which she does as a volunteer. The store sells only certified Louisiana Heirloom Mirlitons. They are sold at cost, depending on the price that the grower charges (some are donated). Mirlitons are...