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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: posie on March 16, 2008, 16:33:43

Title: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 16, 2008, 16:33:43
Ok, so you're all going to laugh, but when I checked on some of my chitting spuds today, it appears that there are very fine white hairs over the chits.  It doesn't look like mildew.  Is this normal or am I growing mutants  ??? ???
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: DenBee on March 16, 2008, 16:43:46
I've just gone and checked mine to make sure.  Definitely normal.  :D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: cambourne7 on March 16, 2008, 16:45:18
I think these are feeding roots - normal  ;)
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 16, 2008, 16:54:42
Phew! Thanks guys!   ;D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 16, 2008, 17:01:40
All I've got to do now is figure out which one is Pentland Javelin and which one is Maris Peer, cos dingbat here forgot to label the tray!!!!  I'm such a plank sometimes!  ;D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: bridgehouse on March 17, 2008, 10:04:33



Me and you, I have mixed up my earlies, up with my second earlies, will it matter do you think. I am new to this allotment game .
      Lol Bridgehouse
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: manicscousers on March 17, 2008, 14:29:32
hiya, bridgehouse,welcome to the site..just means you will be pulling the second earlies with the earlies, might be a bit small  :)
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: Barnowl on March 17, 2008, 15:00:21
Aren't the Maris a bit more yellowy than the Javelin, or is it the other way round  ;D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: bridgehouse on March 18, 2008, 09:00:32
Thanks for that I dont mind if the potatoes are a bit smaller
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 18, 2008, 16:51:35
Well I've google imaged it to death and I still can't tell the difference between the two!  Going to have to take my chances I think!  ;D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: Tee Gee on March 18, 2008, 17:06:21
This is the state of play with me;

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/Chit.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/Chitting1.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/Chitting2.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/Chitting.jpg)
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: tim on March 18, 2008, 17:26:59
Nothing to do with the hairy bits I'm afraid, but just thought I'd mention another aspect of chitting.

All the dothisery & do thatery seems a bit pointless when you reckon that one of these has been in total darkness in a cold Barn: the other on a windowsill in the house. Potatoes always seem to know when it's time.

TG Why are yours big & mine small?



Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: Barnowl on March 18, 2008, 17:41:22
I got bored and planted Lady Christl, Winston and Anya (and put some Anya into a container) - just in time for Metcheck to warn of very high frost risk this week.

Only 9 varieties to go...
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: cambourne7 on March 18, 2008, 17:54:44
my spuds are ready to go just waiting for the weather now  :'(
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: springbok on March 18, 2008, 18:30:00
My potato's have chitted nicely. 

Have my bags ready for planting.  But too scared to plant them in there just yet :)

Waiting for all the experts on here to say GO.. its time :D :D :D
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: kenkew on March 18, 2008, 18:54:37
Put 'em in the dark and you'll end up with this...!
[attachment=1]
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: DenBee on March 18, 2008, 19:06:14
Quote from: kenkew on March 18, 2008, 18:54:37
Put 'em in the dark and you'll end up with this...!


I've got a carrier bag full of Desirees that look just like that - OH found them in the garage the other day.  We must have dug them up round the lottie last year and forgot about them.
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: kenkew on March 18, 2008, 20:02:06
Quote from: posie on March 16, 2008, 16:33:43
Ok, so you're all going to laugh, but when I checked on some of my chitting spuds today, it appears that there are very fine white hairs over the chits.  It doesn't look like mildew.  Is this normal or am I growing mutants  ??? ???
Sorry, but that does sound like mould! Keep chits cool...in light/not direct sun, and seperated. Any chance of a pic?
Ken.
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: Tee Gee on March 18, 2008, 20:34:02
QuoteTG Why are yours big & mine small?

Could it be the photography Tim ?  8)

When I get my stock I ask for them by 'number' as opposed to weight.

A couple of years ago I ordered Kestrel by weight and because they were quite large I had insufficient for my needs.

But I don't think size has much to do with the final harvest, I think this is more a 'variety' thing and how they are sourced.

If the supplier is a wholesale supplier and sells for eating and seeding then there stock will have been graded through a seive. The smaller ones that fall through the grid are used for seed and the larger ones are sold as 'eaters'
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 19, 2008, 07:36:00
Ken, they've been kept on a north facing windowsill in individual cells of a seed tray and it rarely gets direct sun.  I've tried taking a pic but nothing's coming out right! lol 
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: Tee Gee on March 19, 2008, 16:48:58
Quotevery fine white hairs over the chits

Are the 'over' as you say or are they under the chits just above the potato?

If they are the latter they are most likely embryo roots.

Think of it this way; when a haulm (stem) grows,  roots form at the base of it and the potatoes form on these roots.

The chit is just the start of that stem  so these roots are just premature roots, the new potatoes will eventually form on these and the seed potato will rot away!

At least that what I think although a picture would have helped me to diagnose the problem better.
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: posie on March 19, 2008, 17:20:59
Quote from: Tee Gee on March 19, 2008, 16:48:58

Are the 'over' as you say or are they under the chits just above the potato?

If they are the latter they are most likely embryo roots.



That sounds exactly it Tee Gee, it's on all of the spuds and having looked at them with a magnifying glass now, it's definitely not mould, but very very fine white hairs.  Mystery solved.  Well apart from which 1 to plant first rofl.
Title: Re: Hairy Potato Chits???!!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 19, 2008, 20:25:03
Quote from: kenkew on March 18, 2008, 18:54:37
Put 'em in the dark and you'll end up with this...!
[attachment=1]

How do you untangle all those roots?!