This will be the first time I grow potatoes. I plan to buy some seed potato from my local nursery/garden centre. I have heard the term chitting and I know that it involves sprouting the potatoes but I still have some questions which I hope someone can answer:
1. When is the best time to buy the seed potato and what does a good seed pot look like (e.g. should they be small, big, a certain colour, wrinkly or smooth etc???)
2. Exactly how do you chit them (step by step guide for an idiot please)
3. When should I plant them out (I know that protection from fleece would be needed if frost is forecast, I'm in Sussex and have clay soil but fairly well drained but takes a while to warm up)
4. Do First earlies, Second earlies and Maincrop pots get planted at the same time, and finally
5. How do I know when they're ready for harvest?
(Hope this is the right section, or should it be in The Basics?)
1. When is the best time to buy the seed potato and what does a good seed pot look like (e.g. should they be small, big, a certain colour, wrinkly or smooth etc???)
I expect mine to be delivered in February. They will not be large, hens egg size as a general rule. The skins should be smooth, not wrinkles, no soft spots, no obvious signs of rot. They sould be soil covered and un washed so coulur will not be obvious.
2. Exactly how do you chit them (step by step guide for an idiot please)
I place mine in open egg boxes, one seed pot per egg slot. Look at the spud and you will see one end has more "eyes" than the other. These are where the sprouts come from. PLace them in the box eye end up and put in a cool frost and light spot to let the sprouts develop
3. When should I plant them out (I know that protection from fleece would be needed if frost is forecast, I'm in Sussex and have clay soil but fairly well drained but takes a while to warm up)
I am in sussex too and on clay. I plant them in late march early April when the soil is warmed up a bit and not too wet. Once the leaves appear I keep and eye out fro frost aand earth up if one is forecast.
4. Do First earlies, Second earlies and Maincrop pots get planted at the same time, and finally
Yes, if you have time.
5. How do I know when they're ready for harvest?
I always get this wrong as there are certain number of weeks for each type. For first earlies I simply root around under the plant to see waht is there and harvest at pigeon egg size, plant by plant as required.
The rest I leave as long as possible until blight is a problem, then hack the top growth away and leave for another week or so before digging them up.
HTH
Jerry
Thanks Jerry for explaining all that so well. :)
There is some good advice at http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_november_1_potato.asp
I would agree with the site when it says buy early - ie now or as soon as they are in the garden centres (or visit a Potato Day for a huge selection and lots of free expert advice http://www.hhdra.org.uk/potato.htm#days
Chit straight away - pictures on the website
Plant
1st earlies Early March if your soil is a bit cold and damp
2nd earlies Mid March
Maincrop end March beginning of April.
On harvesting
1st eralies - investigate as Jerry suggests from mid June onwards
2nd earlies should be ready in late July August - lift when they are  big enough and you want to eat them
Maincrop - wait for the tops to die die down - if caught by blight remove (and burn) the tops at the first sign of the brown circles and leave for 3 weeks before lifting
Phil
I bung 'em all in around about St. Patric's day, for some reason I find this easy to remember ;)