Topic: Mayan Gold potatoes

[Paulines7]

I have four different types of potatoes on egg boxes.  They all have lovely green shoots apart from the Mayan Gold yet they all started off at the same time.  The Mayan's show no signs of chitting and have turned very green.  Do you think if I put them in the dark it might hurry them on? 

Your thoughts on this matter will be much appreciated. 

[djbrenton]

Mine are in daylight and chitted straight away. Where did you get yours from?

[Paulines7]

I bought them from Tesco!

[Barnowl]

Mine are in indirect light and have just started chitting (bearing in mind what they cost, they are going to have to taste exceptionally good)

I've heard some supermarket potatoes are treated to inhibit chitting / prolong shelf life.


 

[djbrenton]

Brnowl is right I'm afraid. By the time they start chitting it will probably be too late.

[Barnowl]

I planted some supermarket Vivaldi (without chitting) in a container in October and the haulms took until the end of January to appear. Don't know if that was because they were treated or because of the temperatures.

My attitude is that for maincrop potatoes if it's time for them to go in put them in whether they've started to chit or not (Hasn't it been shown that for maincrop potatoes chitting makes little difference to the eventual harvest?).

But I instinctively don't like the sound of them having gone 'very green' (I've never planted green potatoes) but don't know enough to comment.

[asbean]

Our Mayan Gold are chitting happily. The shoots are spikier than normal, but all seem OK.  We got 5 from T&M and 5 from the Whitchurch potato fair in January, but they're all mixed up now, so we won't be able to compare.

[Deb P]

From what I remember from last year, my Mayan Gold didn't chit much then either. Still had a lovely crop though, and I would have grown some more this year if I could have got some from Ryton (their stock didn't turn up on the Potato Day) as I was determined not to order from T&M after last years delivery debacle. So I'm trying Yukon Gold instead this year, it will be interesting to see how they compare.

[djbrenton]

Sadly I found Yukon Gold unremarkeable last year Deb. The flesh wasn't at all yellow.

[Deb P]

Oh no! :'( That does not sound at all promising.... ::)

[Paulines7]

I've heard some supermarket potatoes are treated to inhibit chitting / prolong shelf life.

I am going to give mine a good wash in warm water and hope that if they have been treated with something, it will wash off.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained!!   ;D ;D

Right, I have done that with ¾ of them and have covered the other ¼ with a dark towel.  Hopefully something will start to happen.  I know they are quite a late potato but I would have thought they should start chitting soon.