Topic: Have i bought my seed potatoes to early?

[sawfish]

Here's Montys potato chitting trial results..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/tv_and_radio/factsheets/pages/40.shtml

Apparently....

Chit earlies
Chit second earlies
Dont chit maincrop for best results.

Here's how we usually plant up in Glasgow

First Earlies: Plant towards the end of March:   Harvest June/July
Second Earlies: Plant early to mid April: Harvest July/August
Maincrop: Plant mid to end of April: Harvest September/October

Getting mine this week from West Carlston Garden Centre, Torrance, Glasgow.

£2.99 for 3kg bags

Red Duke of York
Pink Fir Apple
Salad Blue (my own)

[supersprout]

Hey sawfish, nice to see you here ;D
SSx

[cacran]

I got some Desiree ones from Wilkinsons. I have layed them in a confectionary basket ( plastic with holes) not touching one another but put them in the greenhouse. Another lottie person told me to do this. What do you think??? I am a true novice.

[supersprout]

They'll be fine. If you have some fleece, put it over them to protect against light frost. This will allow the light in, unlike a blanket! Are they also protected from rats i.e. on a trestle?

If heavy frost is forecast, I'd bring them indoors for the night, just in case.

[philcooper]

Cacran,

The problem with a green house is that it can get awful hot on a sunny day - a north facing window in unheated room is ideal.

Caroline,

Putting sprouted seed in the dark will not stop the sprouting, it will mean that the sprouts will grow but be longer, thiner and paler than they would be in the light.
Mr Romans should not use poly bags (email him and let him know you're not happy) - a lot of seed from WCF Phoenix (where he gets his seed from) was sprouted this year, we were not happy and have told them so

Phil

[cacran]

Hi Supersprout. will get some fleece on them today. Hope I am not too late as we've just had a couple of very cold days.

Hi Phil, I have not realy got anywhere else to put them at the moment. It was a choice of that or not chitting at all. I will have to make sure I get down to the lottie early in the mornings and open the door and window to keep the temp. down. I am so new to all this. Can't get into the shed yet as the guy who had the lottie last year, died. It still belongs to his wife until April, officially. When she feels up to it, she will clear the shed and next year I will probably be able to use that for the potatoes.

Carol

[cornykev]

Cacran you would be better leaving them indoors in a cold room or under the stairs.  ;D ;D ;D

[cacran]

Okay Corny, Soon as this snow has gone, I will get down to the lottie and retrieve them. Would a garage be okay??? (just a thought!)

[cornykev]

Garage is fine watch out for mice, I keep mine off the floor, not that it will stop the little buggers. By the way has your snow cleared yet the rain seems to have washed ours away. ;D ;D ;D