Author Topic: potato confusion (Read 8598 times)

legless · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 11:21:07 »

hi all, so i've been told that as last summer was dry i should order my seed potatoes early, but it also says to start chitting them as soon as they arrive but i don't plant them yet do i?

do they get delivered straight away? should i order them now and store them? do i order them later? ???

rdak · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:47:00 »

I have ordered mine from Thompson & Morgan. Not expecting them to be delivered until around February/March, when I will start to chit them.

legless · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2003, 12:16:00 »

excellent! i'll order mine now then, thanks!

tim · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2003, 12:25:03 »

- yes - order now and chit when they come. But if you want to be really on the ball, you can get pre-chitted pots from Marshalls - dead easy! - Tim

rdak · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2003, 12:54:23 »

start collecting your eggboxes to make chitting easier.

I've heard that they should be chitted in a cool,sunny, well ventilated place but don't think anywhere in my house meets all those conditions! Last year I accidentally left them in my conservatory during March, when it got very very hot and they were a bit wrinkly when I planted them out, but I got a fantastic crop anyway!

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2003, 14:18:06 »

- cool (like 40 - 60F?) - and light?

Egg boxes? - fine if you're only doing a few, but we have half a dozen trays of them. And I don't believe it's that critical to have them standing on end.

Then - some say rub off all but a couple of shoots before planting - others say leave well alone!! - Tim

legless · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2003, 14:21:50 »

i have ordered the 'salad potato taster' collection from marshalls, 10 tubers each of cherie, ratte and charlotte.

i have been saving egg boxes. have no idea where they need to be chitted, i'm sure i'll find out.

budgiebreeder · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2003, 15:53:01 »

My father used to chit his under the bed. You will find your own methods as you go along Me I do them in the Outhouse on a tray .

tim · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2003, 18:39:34 »

I have to say that, whatever unusual things have worked for others, light is essential - otherwise you will get pale, drawn up and brittle shoots, as opposed to tough green 1/2 -1" ones.

Ratte & Charlotte are both excellent - Cherie, don't know. - Tim

Hugh_Jones · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2003, 18:55:45 »

Just pick the coolest room in the house and put them on the windowledge (as long as it`s not over the radiator). As Tim says, light is absolutely essential for proper chitting, but sunlight is not - even a north facing window will do as long as it doesn`t ice up at night.

gavin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2003, 21:14:12 »

I'm with Hugh - a north-facing, cool, light room is fine. Only problem is turfing one of my kids out of his bed for a few weeks!!!!!!! Fortunately, despite (or because of?) the springtime grumbles, he's also the most enthusiastic potato lifter!

All best - Gavin

legless · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2003, 21:28:05 »

brilliant. thanks for the advice everyone, i will make a note of this post for when they arrive!

philcooper · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2003, 01:35:53 »

Just to add a footnote to the discussion on potatoes. Did you know about the Potato Days organised around the country? They are all non-profit making and have lots of varieties (typically over 100) for you to try. And you can try as few tubers as you like because they are sold loose. They also have experts on hand to answer questions on almost anything to do with potatoes. I've put together a list of them (with some smaller events in Garden Centres) on the website of my gardening group. It's www.hhdra.org.uk and press the potato button

Beer_Belly · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2003, 08:50:57 »

Nice site ! - I'm impressed :)

gavin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2003, 22:28:59 »

Hi Phil - seconded; real nice site!

All best - Gavin

philcooper · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2003, 23:41:25 »

Aw shucks guys - now I'm all embarrassed.

As you may have gathered - I have a bit of a thing about potatoes - I grow around 30 varieties each year (6 or so tubers of each) but I team up for displays with a Welshman who grows over 300

legless · « **Reply #16 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:20:35 »

wow i want a local HDRA! what a great site - takes me back though, I went to Sparsholt College....

really useful stuff, thanks for sharing.

philcooper · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2003, 11:34:37 »

Now I'm on a roll :D. If you want a local HDRA group have a look at the HDRA's site on page http://www.hdra.org.uk/local_groups/index.php - there's a complete list of the groups in the UK - some with web sites

Phil

minerva · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2003, 13:23:18 »

I had my pototoes from thompson and morgan delivered today, does that mean i am suposed to start chitting them already?? surley they will be out of control by planting time???
sam
xxx

tim · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2003, 13:43:21 »

If you're worried, keep them in the cool and dark till the very first sign of emergence. Then chit. But I think you'll find that they will be OK anyway.

Just in case, have some fleece ready to protect early showing in the ground - or just earth them up well? = Tim

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Author Topic: potato confusion (Read 8598 times)

rdak

rdak

Hugh_Jones