Potatoe Chitting

[Bulldog]

My potatoes are chitting nicely but they appear to have gone very soft, is this normal or should I move them before things go wrong if they have not already done so?

[Hazel at the Hill]

My potatoes are chitting nicely but they appear to have gone very soft, is this normal or should I move them before things go wrong if they have not already done so?

Do you mean the potatoes have gone soft, Bulldog? They will do - that is normal!

The should be in a light, cool (but frost free) place - shed with a window, spare bedroom windowsill, that sort of thing.

[jackie j]

Mine are like wrinly prunes lol, planted some today.

[zazen999]

Mine are like wrinly prunes lol,

He was asking about his potatoes J, keep up!

[Wendie]

Mine are going a bit wrinkly too, thought it was something I was doing wrong, only I wasn't doing anything.

Question: is it time for planting out yet - I've chitted for 6 weeks as least and getting a bit panicky now as I'm not sure when to put outside. Monty Don said plant out for Easter- which is 6 weeks away yet!! Chitted Rocket - earlies.

Thanks

Wendy

[Hazel at the Hill]

Mine are going a bit wrinkly too, thought it was something I was doing wrong, only I wasn't doing anything.

Question: is it time for planting out yet - I've chitted for 6 weeks as least and getting a bit panicky now as I'm not sure when to put outside. Monty Don said plant out for Easter- which is 6 weeks away yet!! Chitted Rocket - earlies.

Thanks

Wendy

The problem with planting out for Easter is that Easter moves about the calendar! I can't remember if it's traditional to plant on St Patricks day (today), or Good Friday (weeks away).

My first earlies went in the ground last weekend (they'd been chitting for 6wks too), but I'll be planting out the second earlies maybe this weekend, and the maincrop at the end of the month.

Just looking back through my records, in my first year at the Hill, I grew rocket potatoes - planted 3rd wk February, dug the first ones up 11 wks later on the 10th May.

[Potstubsdustbins]

You can plant your earlies now but beware of a late frost, if one is forecast cover iwth a fleece or earth up to protect them.

Mine are going in their dustbins tomorrow, but there again all I have to do is put the lid on.

Colin

[Hazel at the Hill]

You can plant your earlies now but beware of a late frost, if one is forecast cover iwth a fleece or earth up to protect them.

Yes, I was lucky in the first year planting 24Feb not to get caught out with frost. I wouldn't risk planting before mid March now, I don't think.

The other thing is that I sow them quite deep (about 10") and they tend to have strawy manure over the top of the bed which will protect them to a certain extent.

[VirginVegGrower]

Yes, I was lucky in the first year planting 24Feb not to get caught out with frost. I wouldn't risk planting before mid March now, I don't think.

The other thing is that I sow them quite deep (about 10") and they tend to have strawy manure over the top of the bed which will protect them to a certain extent.

Frost forecast tonight and tomorrow

[Hazel at the Hill]

Frost forecast tonight and tomorrow

That's why this year the first earlies only went in this weekend and they are 10" deep with an overcoat of straw!