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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tomatoada on January 18, 2011, 09:12:41

Title: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: tomatoada on January 18, 2011, 09:12:41
My seed potatoes have arrived.   Last year they produced very small shoots.   I wonder if they were too cold.  What is the ideal temperature to store them please?   They are in my spare room which is about 10 degrees and faces east.
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: Stevens706 on January 18, 2011, 11:01:07
Small shoots are ideal large ones can break off when planting, I chit mine in the conservatory, light but cool at this time of year.
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: Flighty on January 18, 2011, 11:03:01
I don't think that the temperature is critical as most references just say put them somewhere cool and light.
The shots only need to be between 1/2 and 1 inch for planting, and again that's not critical.
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: rugbypost on January 18, 2011, 12:24:08
Just a light, and not to warm room, 6 to seven weeks  and they should be about 1inch nice thick shoot. Not sure about number of shoots i always look to about 3 or 4 shots per potatoe its only what my Father showed me but we all have our way of doing things.  Rugbypost
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: tonybloke on January 18, 2011, 12:53:42
above 10 deg is ideal, light is more important than high temperatures. if growing 'earlies', the more shoots the better, for main crop chitting ain't necessary, but if they have shoots, leave 4 for bigger spuds.
rgds, Tony
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: tomatoada on January 18, 2011, 13:55:34
Thanks for replies and tips.   Last year the shoots on my potatoes were only about 1/2 inch or less.   So it is a bit cold perhaps.  I will turn the radiator up a notch.
I have noted  the no. of shoots for earlies and main crop.   Thanks.
Title: Re: potatoes chitting temp.
Post by: cornykev on January 18, 2011, 14:15:59
As said Cool  8) and light.      ;D ;D ;D