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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cornykev on November 16, 2009, 19:29:18

Title: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: cornykev on November 16, 2009, 19:29:18
My stored spuds are in hessian sacks in my shed on my lottie and they've got eyes growing on them already, even the Kestrels.
Other lottie holders have the same problem, we reckon its because its been milder in the last few months, but they are always cold when I take them home almost fridge cold, how's everybody else's going.   :-\      ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: tonybloke on November 16, 2009, 19:31:18
it's a temperature thing, Kev. A friend of mine who grows spuds for a living (150 acres per year) has his stored in refrigerated warehouses. ;)
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: manicscousers on November 16, 2009, 19:40:54
yep, the only ones not chitting are the desiree, we've been giving the kestrels away to use them up  :-\
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: cornykev on November 16, 2009, 20:02:15
If I put a load in the tray in the fridge, will it slow them down.     :-\ :-\ :-\    ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: davyw1 on November 16, 2009, 20:29:17
I think i may be tempted to plant a few in tubs/buckets/bags and keep them in the greenhouse
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: tonybloke on November 16, 2009, 20:39:18
Quote from: cornykev on November 16, 2009, 20:02:15
If I put a load in the tray in the fridge, will it slow them down.     :-\ :-\ :-\    ;D ;D ;D
yes!
Keep them in the dark as well, behind the stella will do!!
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: manicscousers on November 16, 2009, 20:50:17
thought too much cold made them taste funny  ???
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: plot51A on November 16, 2009, 20:56:40
My Arran Victory are chitting, but so far no signs from the good old PFAs  ;D. Both stored in hessian sacks in a pitch black unheated store room - but I thought it was probably the unseasonable mildness.
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: cornykev on November 17, 2009, 16:21:22
Tone I've got Stella behind the Stella, thats why I asked about the fridge Scousers.   ???     :-\     ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: Tee Gee on November 17, 2009, 17:12:30
Although I agree that temperature is playing its part, I think humidity is another factor.

I store mine in paper sacks because I think the multi layers keep the tubers dryer than they would in hessian sacks, then obviously keeping them in a cool and DRY place also helps!
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: manicscousers on November 17, 2009, 17:17:05
for the first time, we stored ours in paper potato sacks, we usually have them in hessian  ???
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: chriscross1966 on November 17, 2009, 17:19:41
King Edwards, Valors and Maris Pipers have this problem, Deisree's mostly OK, PFA's not showing any sign of it..... Using up the MP, V adn KE as fast as can, Desirees that show it become the bakign potatos for the next few days..... lucky I like spuds.....

chrisc
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: KMARKSnr on November 17, 2009, 18:35:03
sarpo mira is not chitting yet,- by the way guys,the allotments were hammered with blight last season,but the sarpo miras got through easily.

                 Regards,
                       Mark.
Title: Re: Stored spuds chitting
Post by: realfood on November 17, 2009, 19:02:27
Yes, it is the warm and damp weather that has caused this problem, particularly to those potato varieties, such as earlies, that have a short dormancy period. In other words, they start to sprout when the temperature rises. I have had to take out my early seed potatoes and start chitting them to prevent the long shoots developing. This is the first year that this has happened to me.
I have put my Mayan seed into the fridge, as they are particularly liable to sprout.
Sarpo Miro and Axona, both have long dormancy, and I eat them last, in April. Indeed, this is one of the reasons that I grow the Sarpo varieties to extend the eating season.