Planting Mirlitons - Home vegetable garden

[pricepi1]

I'm planting one in New Orleans about a mile from the French Quarter. Everyone seems to be an expert around here on Militons. Half say I must have a male and female. I don't remember my dad talking about that. He grew tons. Arlie

[webcajun]

@pricepi1 ... Never heard about needing male and female plants.  They may be talking male and female flowers.......Donald

[JuneGemini000]

Thank you for the video, i have planted my own mirliton today using your advice

[webcajun]

@JuneGemini000 …It’s my understanding that in the winter the plant should be cut back and covered to protect it from the cold weather…..Donald

[SidneyBou]

I should have also asked how they are doing now. I have one I started last year I believe I have the bottom of the vine with a leaf on it and am waiting for it to start the vine. My Grand Father raised them but I didn't pay any attention. We called them Mirliton or Vegatable pears. Unfortunatly no one taught me french Even if my parents and grandparents spoke french.

[webcajun]

@SidneyBou ...I only grew them that one year, so nothing out there now......Donald

[SidneyBou]

You don't call them Vegatable Pears? I got one started last year but it died I think I am nurseing the vine it left under the hay. Did you get a mail and femail, My wife tells me that is not true. Does she know.

[webcajun]

@SidneyBou ...I didn't look for male / female, these produced lots of Mirlitons. More than I could use.......Donald

[liagarden]

In Mexico, these are called chayotes. I never liked them. Then, last year i saw a recipe for chayote soup, and it was delicious! Blended up the boiled chayotes, onions, cilantro and a can of chopped chiles. A great cream soup. Top with sour cream, plain yogurt or crema if you like, and a few cilantro sprigs. Roasted pepitos would be good on top, too.

[webcajun]

@liagarden ... sounds like some good eating......Donald

[katzcradul]

Oh, no! Not merliton. The curse of my teenage years. I was raised in a Cajun family in Port Arthur, Texas. Someone told my dad that he could feed his whole family (4 teenagers/2 adults) with one merliton plant. He planted that sucker and it must have produced 4,000 merliton! We ate them EVERY day! We thought we'd o.d. on merliton! All us kids vowed that if we survived, when grown, we'd never eat another merliton...and none of us have! LOL (It's only funny now. It wasn't back then!)

[webcajun]

@katzcradul ... the good thing about a mirliton is what ever you stuff it with than't what it's going to taste like. Not much of a taste of their own.........Donald

[deepsouthlouisiana]

thank you so much and I will send you some if I get any this year if you would like have a great day and ps I just love watching you and your set up is great

[webcajun]

@deepsouthlouisiana ... just a few to stuff would be great. Thanks......Donald

[deepsouthlouisiana]

I need to see if you can help me my mirliton is growing but the outer edge of the leaf is turning little yellow how is yours doing and can you help me ...thank you

[webcajun]

@deepsouthlouisiana ... couldn't find any to plant this year so I'm not growing any. Kind of sounds like a little too much fertilizer, they should grow out of it...... Donald

[TheGreenerGardener]

Your soil looks so great. Always like your videos.

[webcajun]

@TheGreenerGardener ... thanks...... Donald

[ColeAnthonyLA]

I could learn a lot from you! Merci!!

[webcajun]

@ColeAnthonyLA ... just stick to the basics and keep it simple. You'll do just fine......... Donald

[rimma4]

Very interesting video@I like the idea of watering pipe:)5*****

[webcajun]

Works well......  Donald

[TnWormsCastings]

what the heck are these?

[webcajun]

Around here they are usually stuffed with shrimp, crawfish or a good rice dressing them baked. They are also known as vegetable pears........ Donald

[tennwhitetrash]

Hey Donald. You reckon them things will grow in Tennessee?  I saw them on a Paula Deen show awhile back. I think they stuffed them with a crawfish etouffee... looked pretty good!

[webcajun]

I don't see why not. Plant em in early spring with no chance of frost and they should do just fine........ Donald

[legaliseit420]

hey there donald :) hows the worm bed going? im starting one at home as we speak!

[webcajun]

Just added another 5 lbs. of worms to the tub thanks to BestBuyWorms. They love it in there........ Donald

[legaliseit420]

good to hear! i bet your churning out a fair amount of castings! i really like your videos . i guess im one of your younger viewers and id sure love to move and live in the country when im older. your videos have really inspired me :) thanks George

[TheNinjaGardener]

excellent

[webcajun]

Thanks...... Donald

[mukwah1111]

Wow thats super nice soil Donald ! I have never heard of a Mirliton before? How is it eaten? Cooked? raw? Is it a southern veggie? Do tell !

[webcajun]

Stuffed with shrimp, crawfish or a good rice dressing is the most popular way of cooking them in Louisiana ....... Donald

[DoctorsWife56]

I see your videos and all I can think is "I gotta try that"! You have the coolest projects. I'm just saying.... :-)

[webcajun]

The first ones were flooded by all the rain but the second attempt went smooth. Should be seeing some small ones by late summer....... Donald

[tinafisher]

Love it, thanks, kisses to Lucy!

[webcajun]

Thanks and I'll kiss "knot head" for you. LOL ...... Donald

[ShushLorraine]

Thanks Donald! This is entirely new to me. Amazing vegetable.

[webcajun]

The next video will be about planting Cucuzza Squash. Now that's something I've never done or tried. Google em and you'll see what I'm talking about........ Donald

[soxnes]

That is so kewl how it grew that much!

[webcajun]

The vines have grown twice as much since the video......... Donald

[soxnes]

That is Great cant wait to see how big they are getting.

[500passwords]

you taught me something new donald and thats quite feat seeing as how hard headed i am :) i had never heard of mirlitons before, never seen them up here in corn country.

5 stars

[webcajun]

Mirlitons have been grown for hundreds of years. They are very popular in South Louisiana. I think they come from South America......... Donald

[okfarmgal]

Knothead = Lucy LOL!

I love ya Lucy!!!!

[webcajun]

Every day it's something new. Yesterday she was walking around the yard with a kitten in her mouth. Kitten doesn't mind cause it followers her around........ Donald

[MyLittleGreenThumb]

what are they?

[EbolaV1rus]

They are also known as Chayote. It is a very valuable plant and veggie. All parts of the plant..including the root and seeds may be eaten. The leaves may also be consumed and have medicinal properties. If you have a large hispanic community in your are, youmay be able to find these in the grocery store and grow them yourself.

Fantastic video, thanks for sharing!

[ShushLorraine]

Thanks, Ebola. I had no idea what that was either. I'll look in our produce section now and see if they're there.

[gardenkids]

different never seen it before but pretty cool

[webcajun]

They are suppose to be great when stuffed....... Donald

[sadia102]

Is that a choco?

Just checked Google. They are. Here in Oz they are known for growing no matter what! Very easy. Chuck in the compost type.

Popular from 50 years back when they were boiled..but usually they were boiled until they had no taste. Kids hated them. Nice steamed though. Must get myself some. You have a lovely home.

[webcajun]

The Mirliton is also known as the Chayote (chi-OH-tay), Alligator Pear, Mango Squash and Vegetable Pear. They can be fried, stuffed, pickled, stir fried, cooked with tomatoes and used in salads. Stuffed with shrimp, crawfish or rice dressing is the most popular in Louisiana....... Donald

[sadia102]

Cool.I'll try those. thanks Donald.

[SasyBecause]

Poor Lucy .. I think you are pickin on her Donald

[webcajun]

Poor Lucy has learned to eat corn on the cob now. She'll pick an ear clean then chew up the cob in my shop, making a mess. Knot head dog....... Donald

[Octahoney]

I have never seen or heard of that plant before. Looks interesting...

[webcajun]

Mirlitons are very popular in South Louisiana...... Donald

[aztec11]

That looks like the same vine my neighbor 2 houses down started 10 years ago. And it's more annoying that anything...! Hopefully it's not the same thing lol

[webcajun]

This vine produces fruit so it's OK in my book. LOL ....... Donald

[HLCpromow]

Hi Donald.. My granny made a tea from the leaves and fruit. She treated kidney stone attacks with it.

She called them Mango squash. I never ate one.

do they taste like a potato??

[webcajun]

I've eaten them when I was young (long, long, long time ago) and will let you know....... Donald

[ohhyeahzulu]

never seen one of those before. do they taste good?

[webcajun]

I've eaten them when I was young (long, long, long time ago) and will let you know....... Donald