Re Chitting spuds

[gazza1960]

Im sure were not the only ones to have Tatters chitting away madly only to find the ground is so waterlogged or frozen to get them in.

I have read that you can clean the chits off the potatoes,and leave them to chit again.

I have not dared to wipe the chits off as yet,but wondered if any of you have done this and found the potatoes have (Re) chitted successfully
for digging in a few weeks after.

Any thoughts..????

Cheers

GazNjude

[gazza1960]

[goodlife]

If the potatoes are still plump and looking that they have energy left in them ..then yes..it is possible to re-chit...or you can just snap the long sprouts shorter and they will grow again but 'bushier'.
If they haven't gone too long..but you are just worried existing ones going too 'far'...just keep them in as cool and light place as possible and they'll be fine for several weeks yet.
Mine are just right stage for planting right now...but they will have to keep..I've moved mine into almost outdoor temperature and they've stopped developing any further...no, they are not freezed..not far off though.

[cornykev]

I have found myself rubbing off a few smaller chits, leaving the big ones to plump up, but I wouldn't rub them all off waiting for others to grow, you shoud be aiming for purpley stumpy looking chits and the energy from the spud fattens these up, I know what you mean about waiting for the ground to liven up  but I wouldn't advise rubbing off stumpy looking chits Gazza.    

[GREGME]

Never tried it until this spring but there is a theory that rubbing off the biggest chit helps on the link below

http://www.jalving-potatoes.nl/uk-growing.html

[cornykev]

Thats a new one on me, I'll have to have a word with tattieman.       

[goodlife]

Never tried it until this spring but there is a theory that rubbing off the biggest chit helps on the link below

http://www.jalving-potatoes.nl/uk-growing.html

Umm....just try to 'rub' anything off from these without destroying the whole clump  ..better leave them alone..

[artichoke]

I have a group putting out desperate green growth points and roots, but there is no way I am putting them into the ground. They are on my top floor on a bright window table, no heating, very chunky. Hoping for the best. Meaning warmer weather in April and a very late planting that may catch up.

We do have to adjust to whatever the weather throws at us.

[George the Pigman]

You can just knock of all the chits just leaving one. You only need one starting chit that will make the stem. If you accidently lose all the chits they will regrow.
Actually you only really gain anything by chitting first earlies (and possibly second earlies). Maincrops don't gain from chitting.
I certainly wouldn't put them in the ground now!! I have planted the lot (earlies and all) at the end of April and had a great crop!

[gazza1960]

Ok,cheers all.
Yes it was first earlies that I was referring to really.

Gazza

[Tattieman]

The important thing with chitting is to make sure that all the eyes are producing sprouts to maximise the yields. Sometimes you will only get one sprout developing and this leads to smaller yields.  This has lead to a 25% increase in Holland by ensuring that if only one sprout is produced they break it off and this stimulates the tuber to open the rest of the eyes.

[Hi_Hoe]

So...We shouldn't rub one out??