When and where do you chit your potatoes?

[laurieuk]

Chitting ensures they get away to a good start and avoids the slugs eating the little shoots that come from not chitting, I really cannot see how anything like chitting can reduce the crop, as you have complete control on whether you want quantity, by leaving all shoots on, or quality by reducing the numbers of shoots. The are no must or must not dos in gardening we all do what suits each of us.

[laurieuk]

[Merry Tiller]

I really cannot see how anything like chitting can reduce the crop

Just because you can't see why, it doesn't mean that you're right. Anyhow of course we should all do what suits us, some will just have better results than others ;)

The technical term for chitting is "premature ageing" by the way, I'd love to go more deeply into the full explanation given by the guru himself but I'm not abouit to breach his copyright

[Robert_Brenchley]

Who's the Guru?

[Merry Tiller]

Sorry, thought I'd put it in an earlier posting

http://www.alanromans.com/product.asp?numRecordPosition=2&P_ID=689

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you explain in your words not his, you'll be in no danger of breaching copyright! Even a short section of it quoted so we could discuss it would be legitimate; it's not a total ban.

[Merry Tiller]

Will try to remember tomorrow, I'm supposed to be in bed, up for work at 5.30

[laurieuk]

 I don't believe I have ever claimed to be right, I only say what I do and why I do it, I have always said at the start of any talk this is my way and if you do it in a different way and are successful then carry on in your way. I try to illustrate with slides the results I get and am prpared to be judged by that. Lats not get all uptight and start quoting other people's opinions at each other.

Just because you can't see why, it doesn't mean that you're right. Anyhow of course we should all do what suits us, some will just have better results than others ;)

[Froglegs]

I personly don't chit, i lust plant them when i think the time is right and let mother nature do the rest , up to now she as not let me down. :)

[tim]

PLEASE don't let this simple thread develop into another bitchy harangue??

We all know that potatoes will 'chit' in their own good time - especially PFA!! - & if you received them in December, like we always do, it would not be sensible to leave them to develop a tangled mass of white roots. So, they're on a windowsill.

If you only get them a month before their normal planting date, as some do, then you're not going to get much of a 'chit' in that time? So?

OK - it's been a BAD morning!!

[Curryandchips]

PLEASE don't let this simple thread develop into another bitchy harangue??

Well said Tim, perhaps it's just cabin fever, from the wet weather ... ?  :)

Derek

PS, I may try and rub a few chits off some of my Cara this year, to see if I can develop any massive bakers ...

[Merry Tiller]

Tim, bitchy? please

Try re-reading my posts in a calm friendly tone not a shouty belligerent one

Curry, no one asked your opinion






























ha, got you there ;D

Oh, Laurieuk, I can assure you that I'm not in the least uptight, as I said, everyone should do their own thing, I'm just explaining the reasons why I do it my way, what's wrong with quoting an expert on the subject? chill out people for goodness sake  ::)

By the way, chitting brings on early growth & maturity but early maturity means that the plant can not reach it's maximum potential, this is the gist of Mr Romans point. He also goes on to say that planting in a warm soil will have far more effect on getting your spuds early

[barrow boy]

well i never recieved my desiree  potatoes till late and still managed to win the competion with 3 spuds  and 30lb in weight without chitting ;D

[cookie]

What a lot to take in ! To chit or not to chit?
After reading all these posts, OH has said that he will do what he usually does,egg trays under the bed. ;) ;)

[Merry Tiller]

In theory probably the worst place ie. dark and warm but if it works for you what the heck ;)

[cookie]

NO heating in our bedroom, also very high( old brass ) bed. At least 18" gap underneath :) :)

[Merry Tiller]

brrrrrrr :o

[Hyacinth]

Back to PFA, please?.....they take so long to chit (or mine did last year), is it better to pre-chit rather than to plant them and cross fingers that they will in time do something before they rot off?

[Curryandchips]

I have never bothered pre chitting PFA, just plant and leave them to it

Derek :)

[robkb]

I tried chitting PFA last year but they didn't want to! Eventually I just bunged them in the ground - they grew well, gave an okay-ish yield and tasted absolutely delicious!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[cornykev]

So I'll just stick my PFA straight in.