Chokos (Sechium edule)

Hello,

I've been trying to grow chokos for nearly two years and am having no success. My latest attempt involves four fruit, all of which have grown long tendrils but no leaves. I've put two of them out and they have both died (although the location should have been suitable). This has been the case for the previous 6 attempts as well.
My question is do they need to have leaves before I put them out? If so, how do I get them to grow leaves?

I've had them in various places around the house - a half-open wardrobe, under a desk, near an armchair - all with indirect (and variable amounts) of sunlight.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Aula

Hi there,

I started mine in a "veranda" once the first tendril appeared, so lots of light and not so much heat, as it was around March I guess...
I'm in the next stage now... I have only one plant left (the others got eaten by rodents I suppose), and I never get any fruit. In fact, I get several small fruits, but they don't get big enough before the first frost, so they die and fall down.
I definitely have to find another place to grow them... Maybe in the veranda if my significant other let me do it (already full of banana "trees").

Hey Aula. So, I always have them here growing for the rabbits fodder (I don't grow for the fruit, they are cheap as dirt here). I let them sprout on the counter (just a sprout, no leaves) and throw them in the yard, I literally don't even bury them. About half will take and half will not. I do notice that they grow on their own time. Your weather there looks similar to mine, and by now they should be running like crazy. They get burned by frost, even mild frost, but usually come back, so it might be a question of getting rain. Right now after we broke our winter drought they are running like nuts.
The ones that do best are in a somewhat shaded place (protected) where they get regular water (two are doing well under squash leaves). Once the tendril comes out the roots will go down, but it won't go past that tendril til the roots find a place to bury themselves. And it's typical vine: it may sleep for months, but once it starts to go, it explodes and will cover your car.
When your other ones died, did they not put down roots? Any chance they dried out?

Thank you for the replies, André and Tereza.

Tereza, I think I may have not watered them enough. I figured that they'd take quite a bit of moisture from the actual fruit before setting down roots, and so they probably dried out.
The locations I've chosen seem to be ok from what both of you said - they're not in direct sun, but it's certainly not shade, and we don't get frost north of Perth where I am.

I'll try the last few I have by making sure they get enough water and see what happens... think that might do the trick!

Thank you both again :)