Hi all,
I'm chitting swift earlies at the mo. How long should I let the shoots grow before planting and when's the earliest I can plant?...I have a cloche and could use that
Ta
Soil temp is the best indicator, if it is too cold they won't do anything and may rot. If they are kept in good light the chits shouldn't get too long. :)
A grower friend of mine would always plant early under plastic to try and get the first Cheshires to market a week or two earlier, but even then, sometimes the intense cold would strike through the protection and kill off the tops and he would lose the advantage of early planting. If you want spuds early, you have to decide when the last frost is going to be and plant accordingly. Chitting makes little difference, short green chits are better than long white straggly ones that can be damaged.
brilliant advice saddad and terrier thanks. maybe i've started chitting too early! there could be frosts for weeks yet couldn't there?
Quote from: terrier on January 19, 2009, 21:47:56
Chitting makes little difference, short green chits are better than long white straggly ones that can be damaged.
Chitting makes a difference of upto 3 weeks on crop time and upto 70% on yield for earlies, about a week and 25% to yield on second earlies and no difference to maincrop.
Always chit you earlies and 2nd earlies. Put them in a cool dry light place but not in direct sunlight and where mice can't get at them.
You want 1.5-2" shoots which are dark green/purple in colour, and plant carefully to avoid damaging them.
Planting before the last week in March unless you can plant in tunnels is generally pointless unless you're in a area which is guarenteed frost free until the end of May or unless you earth up all the time which retards them less than frost does but doesn't give you a decent crop.
Hi diggy I have mine chitting in my cold shed and will plant the second week in March weather permitting, but will try a sneaky few at the end of Feb under cloches and after warming the soil for a few weeks. ;D ;D ;D
Just out of interest, when would you put 2nd and main in, because all the labels say March on mine! Obviously 1st would be March, but to get a good succession what would you consider the following dates should be?
If the weathers OK I plant a couple of weeks after the earlies have gone in, and sometimes well into April, last year I put some PFA in in June. ;D ;D ;D
Thanks Corny, was round and about what I was thinking.
QuotePut them in a cool dry light place but not in direct sunlight and where mice can't get at them.
Hmm.. have just bought 4 bags of potatoes, and realise I havent got anywhere to chit them. Very small flat, and the shed (which I was going to use) is defo not mouse-free! They are in my car boot at the mo, will they keep in there and be OK to just put straight in the ground unchitted in spring?
The prolem with your car boot is that it will be dark and could get very cold. If you can ear it, you may have to have them in the house. The first year I had them oin my bedroom, next year the dining room. Now I have a spare room thanks to daughter at uni they will go in there.
It is not imperative that you chit potatoes but is imperative to keep them frost free.
Hang then on the coat at the back of the door until planting out time if all else fails
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Potatoes.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Potatoes.htm)
a follow on Q
i bought some 1st earlies and main crop both started to grow in the plastic bag i bought them - d i just rub of the growth for the mains - as it is too eqarly - or do i just go ahead and start growing them ?
i sure will have a lot of potatoes all at the same time
Quote from: straush on January 22, 2009, 20:55:22
i bought some 1st earlies and main crop both started to grow in the plastic bag i bought them - d i just rub of the growth for the mains - as it is too eqarly - or do i just go ahead and start growing them ?
Remove them from the plastic bag and lay them out in a tray or egg boxes. They should recover. Just leave the shoots until you are ready to plant in March / April.
thanks - picled up egg cartons yesterday from our work canteen - will get them set up this weekend
Hi,
I was doing a search about chitting and came across this one so thought i would ask here rather than starting another thread. I brought first earlies salad and main crop but have noticed that all varieties have started chitting in the net bags and am worried that the main crop and salad spuds chits are going to be too big!! If i have read correctly the chits should be 1.5 -2 inch's but some of them are that all ready! And not the recommended purple/green in colour so my question is do i knock them off or leave them??
Thanks Lucy
Quote from: saddad on January 19, 2009, 21:47:17
Soil temp is the best indicator, if it is too cold they won't do anything and may rot. If they are kept in good light the chits shouldn't get too long. :)
Just to add to this. Wet soil takes longer to warm up than dry - so if possible put some plastic sheeting (or similar) over the top of the bed for a few weeks prior to planting to keep off the rain and allow it to dry out. It will warm up quicker and your tubers are less likely to rot.
This does not keep the soil temp much warmer at night than uncovered beds so still be wary of late frosts.
mummybunny, I wouldn't leave them in the bags, ours are in egg boxes on the kitchen table, in indirect light so the chits grow small, plus they're in an unheated room :)
Quote from: lewic on January 20, 2009, 19:06:30
QuotePut them in a cool dry light place but not in direct sunlight and where mice can't get at them.
Hmm.. have just bought 4 bags of potatoes, and realise I havent got anywhere to chit them. Very small flat, and the shed (which I was going to use) is defo not mouse-free! They are in my car boot at the mo, will they keep in there and be OK to just put straight in the ground unchitted in spring?
on top of the kitchen cabinets? that's where mine always go!
Hi thanks for the replies am planning on putting into egg box's today only got them yesterday ;D Was just wondering what to do with the long chits?
I only grew swift last year in builders bags but spent the day yesterday digging over a large area down the lottie which has been covered since last year was planning on putting it to good use this year. Its all coming together nicely now and a fully dug plot Woohoo
Trying pentland javelin Charlotte and king Edward this year ;D
Take the chits off, you'll soon get some decent ones growing. ;D ;D ;D
Thanks ;D
I can never understand advice NOT to chit potatoes, even maincrops. They sprout anyway, whatever you do, either long weak straggly ones if left in dark garage, or short strong ones if laid out on egg boxes in cool daylight.
QuoteSoil temp is the best indicator, if it is too cold they won't do anything and may rot
So what temperature does the soil need to be for potatoes?
I usually end up with quite a tangled mess, so this year they are all spread out neatly in egg boxes on the spare room windowsill. I agree with Artichoke it does seem to be much more sensible.
wow ive just picked up my potatoes ive bought for 1st earlies foremost and rocket for my second earlies ive bought charlotte and for my main i have cara and desireeand romano ;D
im chitting the ist earlies in trays on the kitchen cabinets would it be worthwile chitting the 2nd earlies now as well? ???
also my main crop are in paper bags in a hessian sack if i leave them in a bedroom with no heat etc will they be ok ?
also i bought 1 golden gourmet shallots two sturon onion sets and 1 red baron onion sets never seen so many onions in my life lol
also an update on the tomatoes i lost them all :( however ive just replanted or pricked oput 30 chillie pepper plants so hopefully i will get some of those ok and i purchased my first cold frame so i can harden the seedling etc so ive been busy i love communing with mother nature its such great fun and ive found a new shed 8x8 for £299 dekivery is an extra tenner and the build another 45 quid so all in all im having great fun ;D
Lay them all out to chit and don't leave them in the kitchen as it will be too warm for them in there, they need a cool light room so your unheated bedroom sounds ideal. ;D ;D ;D
cheers for that kev the kitchen is quite cool not really hot and they are away from the oven etc so will this be ok and do you think i should be chitting the main crop ???
Yes ;D ;D ;D