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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: abdehor on February 03, 2006, 17:16:04

Title: chitting
Post by: abdehor on February 03, 2006, 17:16:04: Where does anyone suggest I chit my seed potatos, I have no shed and the shed up the allotment is very dark.
Any suggestions
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Larkspur on February 03, 2006, 17:23:30: On a (paste)table by a window in a unheated spare bedroom.?
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: tim on February 03, 2006, 17:37:55: See "having trouble chitting" below - a windowsill?
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: grawrc on February 03, 2006, 20:20:52: Anywhere in your house that is light and frostfree and where you don't mind having trays of potatoes lying about for 4-6 weeks.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Merry Tiller on February 04, 2006, 21:24:31: Not worth the bother
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Mubgrub on February 05, 2006, 16:06:33: I live in a shared house so the only real option was the basement although its heated, didn't do them any harm though. Anywhere you have space, on top of the fridge was another one I tried, housemates didn't like that one though....
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: tim on February 05, 2006, 16:14:20: But, MT, if they're not in the light, the shoots will still grow & you'll have spindly shoots?
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Rosyred on February 06, 2006, 19:17:59: I brought three bags of potatoes, earlies, 2nd earlies and main crop. As i was excited to get going i put the earlies out to chit and left the others in there bag in a cardboard box. Yesterday I checked and the ones i put out to chit hadn't done anything and the ones in left in there bags in the box had started. Wasn't worth my effort really.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: grawrc on February 06, 2006, 20:17:02: I have lovely shoots coming on My Orla earlies. :) :)
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: grotbag on February 06, 2006, 20:33:10: Only got me taters yesterday
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 06, 2006, 22:26:54: I just leave them in open bags in a corner at home. They chit OK despite the heat.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Flowertot on February 07, 2006, 11:40:48: OMG What's chitting? ??? I have so much to learn.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: tim on February 07, 2006, 13:20:46: Rosy - surely it depends to a great deal upon where the seed came from, how it has been treated & how it has been stored? Much more so than what you do??
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Roy Bham UK on February 07, 2006, 16:47:01: Quote from: Flowertot on February 07, 2006, 11:40:48
OMG What's chitting? ??? I have so much to learn.

;D Hi Flowertot click this... http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0204/chitting_potatoes.asp

Or better still type chitting in the search facility at the top of this page. ;)
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Zippy Seale on February 07, 2006, 19:17:11: I got my started a week ago.
those friendly people at tesco let me take a few of the fruit boxes and i just laid on the floor in my guitar room. which now is a nursery till the greenhouse is finished...lol
(http://uk.geocities.com/ba_seale/dscf0002.jpg) (http://uk.geocities.com/ba_seale/dscf0003.jpg)

(http://uk.geocities.com/ba_seale/dscf0004.jpg)

i like to chit for 5-6 weeks. plant and away you go.
the old egg trays are idea to stand spuds rose end up. the end with more eyes. i placed some in a egg box to give you an idea.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Rosyred on February 08, 2006, 21:41:24: Thanks for that Tim thought it might be me doing it wrong. Some look a bit green will they be ok?
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: tim on February 09, 2006, 06:54:34: Potatoes or shoots? Either way, fret not!
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: grawrc on February 09, 2006, 17:46:35: You shouldn't eat green potatoes but you can plant them all right. Green shoots are gooood. :)
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Merry Tiller on February 22, 2006, 23:56:13: Quote
But, MT, if they're not in the light, the shoots will still grow & you'll have spindly shoots?

If you keep them cold enough chits won't appear Tim
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: vee on February 23, 2006, 13:24:16: Mine still haven't arrived.
I ordered from Tuckers and they say one variety hasn't got there yet so they're waiting till the order is complete. I've ordered for four other people as well so I keep getting asked where they are.
Hpe it's not getting too late for chiiting?
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: sid on February 23, 2006, 13:43:23: i put mine on top of the kitching unit and they seem to doing fine
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: John_H on February 23, 2006, 16:03:03: I put mine down by the cat flap, but not directly underneath!
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: tim on February 23, 2006, 17:18:37: Merryone - yes - theoretically. I thought that the attached was quite interesting?

However, our main crop have been in quite cool conditions for 2 months & are now telling me that they want to 'chit'.

Interesting, too, that 7C is the recommended min soil temp for planting.

Potatoes are naturally dormant for about two months. However, it is often necessary to store them for longer periods of time by extending the dormancy period and by keeping shrinkage to a minimum. Temperature and humidity are important factors in this respect. Suitable temperatures for long term storage are related to the eventual use of the potatoes.
For seed stock, temperatures of 3 to 5°C will delay sprouting for up to 8 months. For ware potatoes, 4 to 8°C will allow several months (4 - eight - you can't do figure 8 bracket!!) of storage without SERIOUS (my caps) sprouting, while lower temperatures increase the risk of sweetening, that is, the conversion of starch to sugar. Finally, for processing potatoes, a minimum temperature of 7 to 10° C is required in order to prevent discolouration and to keep sweetening to an absolute minimum. In stores with higher temperatures it is possible to control sprouting in ware and processing potatoes for up to 6-8 months by using a sprout supressant chemical.

Later - ooops! that's reading 3C low in a cross check with a 'certified' thermo.
Title: Re: chitting
Post by: Debs on February 25, 2006, 14:26:41: Tim,

I have mine in the greenhouse which, as of yesterday (fri) is heated to 10-15 C

Will this be detrimental to them??

If so, I shall move to cooler place.

Debs