Topic: chitting

[laurieuk]

These are my main crop Cara potatoes set up for chitting the day I got them from our local Allot Ass. Dec 19th. I set all mine up as soon as I get tem to avoid long weak shoots and give them a good start when I plant.

[Squash64]

They're looking good Laurie.  Where do you keep them?  Mine arrived yesterday and I'm having a problem knowing where to put them to chit.

[shirlton]

I put mine on the windowsills in the spare rooms and also on any windowsill around the house that hasn't got a hot radiator underneath

[Squash64]

We haven't got a spare room Shirl, so all the rooms are heated.  I used to use the porch, but that is heated too now.

[Hyacinth]

If anyone's growing PFA for the first time, I've always found they're extremely slow to chit and in fact last year they hadn't done so by the time I wanted to plant them - still got a great crop and they're still my all-time faves.

[cornykev]

My Cara, Kestrel and Rocket are chitting in the kids playhouse and as Hyacinth says my PFA always got planted without chits.   ;D ;D ;D

[laurieuk]

Snap you are growing the same varieties as myself, they suit our soil and our likes , and if I want a few for local show Kestrel produces good shaped samples.
Note to Squash 64 . we do not heat any of our bedrooms so they are in our spare room until anyone stays with us , then for a few days they share our room.

My Cara, Kestrel and Rocket are chitting in the kids playhouse and as Hyacinth says my PFA always got planted without chits.   ;D ;D ;D

[saddad]

PFA are a late main with long natural dormancy... they do chit, or they wouldn't grow they just do it much later than most... good keepers.  ;D

[gwynnethmary]

as a newbie chitter as well as planter, is there a right way to orientate a PFA?  They're just lying down horizontally at the moment as they seem to be too long to stand up, and I couldn't determine where the end is!

[chriscross1966]

PFA will probably go in with the chits only just showing, just don't keep them warm and dark and they'll be fine.... they are one of the last potatoes to crop so like most mains they don't really need to chit...  they are a very much more primitive strain of potato than most others, or maybe atavistic would be a better word, thay are a bit of a throwback after  all. That said they're the only spud I've got that hasn't had issues with some premature sprouting during that rather warm November we had (remember the warm?)

chrisc

[Digeroo]

Thanks for reminding me to put them in trays.  I usually leave them in the netting bags and then have a struggle disentangling them.  I bought 5 each of 9 different varieties now they are in egg boxes I regret not getting 6.

[cornykev]

Great minds Laurie, great minds.     ;D ;D ;D

[Karen Atkinson]

Hi,
Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm new to chitting too - and growing potatoes - and we've only had our allotment a few months so I'd appreciate any help or tips.

I ordered maincrop seed potatoes but they only sold them in 3kg bags - which seems rather alot but we bought them anyway.  I'm assuming I can't keep any till next year like packet seeds and that I have to plant them all out. So, now I know I've got to chit them - they've been left in the dark (oops) in a cold porch for a month. They are Kerrs Pink, which was described as being good for northern areas - My questions are:

1. Can they just be laid out in a box? (we won't have enough eggboxes)

2. Do you think the allotment shed or under the greenhouse staging is the best place for them to be positioned while chitting?

3. Can I plant them in semi-shade?

4. Do I need to dig in rotted manure or compost before I plant. In other words, are they thirsty?

5. And finally..assuming I have any successes, how do I store them and how long will they store for?

Thankyou for your help!

[Digitalis]

These are my main crop Cara potatoes set up for chitting the day I got them from our local Allot Ass. Dec 19th. I set all mine up as soon as I get tem to avoid long weak shoots and give them a good start when I plant.

That's what my Caras look like!

You can rub the shoots off seed spuds up to 5 times if they are growing too long and weak. Any more than 5 and they may not re-sprout.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You can chit or not as you choose; I'm not sure whether it makes much difference as they seem to pop up when the soil reaches the right temperature, whatever you do. They're greedy feeders so give them all the manure you can.

[sunloving]

Hi
If you are new to your plot have a seach on this thread for aminopyraloid and manure as the last two years many of us have had problems of contamination, potatoes are especially vulnerable.
 
Your plot neighbours will be able to advise you where they have a safe supply if there is one in your area. But if you are not sure do a test with a bean or a pea as on the thread.
Good luck with the spuds
x sunloving