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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: lizagrowbag on February 06, 2009, 11:17:55

Title: seed potatoes?
Post by: lizagrowbag on February 06, 2009, 11:17:55
Hi there

This is my first full season having a lottie and i have lots of questions as im totally new lol but my first one is

i have bought a load of seed potatoes from wilkos
i need to chit them? can someone give me instructions on how n were to do this
or a link to go read about it will help too.

when do they need to be planted out too.

oh and i have some onion sets from there too which month do they need planting


ty for any and all help liza x
Title: Re: seed potatoes?
Post by: glosterwomble on February 06, 2009, 11:38:38
Chit your potatoes now. I do mine by laying the in seed trays with most of the 'eyes' upwards and put the trays in the shed. They need light not dark or the chits (shoots) will grow long and spindly. I think you could put them anywhere that is frost free, maybe a porch or coolish spare bedroom. Some people also use egg boxes to sit each spud in.

Traditionally potatoes are planted on Good Friday, mostly because it was the first holiday in the year for the working person. You need to wait until the bad frosts are over though.
Title: Re: seed potatoes?
Post by: asbean on February 06, 2009, 11:41:25
Hi Lizagrowbag

Welcome to A4A - I'm surprised there were 16 "reads" of your post and no-one has replied - and this is in the chitting time of year too!

This is a good description of how to chit your spuds: http://rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0204/chitting_potatoes.asp (http://rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0204/chitting_potatoes.asp)

When they're planted out depends on whether they are first earlies, second earlies, early maincrop or late maincrop.  What varieties did you buy?

Here's a link to the RHS re planting onion sets:  http://www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/onion.asp (http://www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/onion.asp)

Good luck - don't forget to use the search facility on this site and also the wiki, and if all else fails, post your question.  There will always be someone with an answer!  :) :) :)
Title: Re: seed potatoes?
Post by: Tee Gee on February 06, 2009, 12:38:10
Info on Chitting here;http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potato%20chitting/Potato%20chitting.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potato%20chitting/Potato%20chitting.htm)

On planting here;http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Potatoes.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Potatoes.htm)

Onions here;http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Onions/Onions.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Onions/Onions.htm)
Title: Re: seed potatoes?
Post by: lizagrowbag on February 06, 2009, 17:38:44
thanks very much everyone for the great links they have helped alot
and i set all my spuds to chit now  ty again liza