Planting early potatoes late!

[moreteavicar]

Due to many factors, I have not planted my seed potatoes yet.
First and second earlies and maincrop.

Should I chit them now or just plant them?

[ameno]

Gardening Which tests have shown that chitting early and second early potatoes doesn't actually make much difference to ultimate yields, so I'd just go ahead and plant now.
Main crop did perform slightly better when chitted, so I'd wait until they have small sprouts on them (I wouldn't bother waiting until you get big chubby sprouts, though. Just plant as soon as sprouts start to appear).

[Thelma Sanders]

I was always told it was the earlier potatoes that you chitted, so you could harvest them quickly

Later ones have a longer growing period before we expect to be able to eat them

The chitting process allows strong green shoots (chits) to develop on the seed potato tuber before planting. Although not essential it is particularly beneficial for the earlier cropping potatoes, because it gives the potato a quick start thus cropping slightly earlier. Later cropping potatoes are less likely to need chitting as warmer soil temperatures can make a greater difference.

https://blog.mr-fothergills.co.uk/ca...seed-potatoes/

[moreteavicar]

Thanks both!

[Jungle Jane]

I’ve always read there’s no need to chit. I don’t know how gardening which did their test,if they were harvested all at the same time,the potatoes that had been chitting might be slightly heavier yield because when they’re chitting they’re growing slowly but if they’re all harvested from the same amount of time “growing” both groups of potatoes should be very similar weights. If gardening which left the unchitted potatoes in the ground a month longer that the others it would be fairer. It’s difficult to really know unless you’ve seen the actual test & results.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I'll repeat what I've said many times. Chitting is not necessary. It is only a method of controlling the growth of the sprouts/chits and does not affect yield at all. It may give a slightly earlier crop but non chitted spuds will still grow.

[Can the Man]

I was always told by my dad and my uncle to chit the spuds so I have always done this

[Nicos]

Commercial farmers don't chit them.

Mine only get chitted because once bought they need separating before they chit in the bag and get tangled.
If I've bought them late then they don't get chitted.
Mine are being planted out tomorrow 'ready or not'

[Aberdeenplotter]

Commercial farmers don't chit them.

Because they don't need to control the growth of the sprouts/chits. They keep the seed in temperature controlled storage which prevents the spuds sprouting.

[Jimny14]

I only grow earlies, some have been planted unchitted, others are sat chitting away. Not due to any reason other than availability (or lack there of) of sacks to grow them in. Have some coming but who knows when they'll arrive

[TrialAndError]

The key factor in growing early potatoes for the earliest date is frost. It's that simple.

If the greenery appears above ground and a frost hits, the potato plant is damaged and will always produce a crop later than a crop which just appears above ground after the last frost.

If you chit potatoes they will appear above ground earlier than non-chitted potatoes - by a few days. Take that into account if you want to chit potatoes.

The only exception might be potatoes grown in containers where you can cover them if a frost threatens.

[ameno]

The key factor in growing early potatoes for the earliest date is frost. It's that simple.

If the greenery appears above ground and a frost hits, the potato plant is damaged and will always produce a crop later than a crop which just appears above ground after the last frost.

If you chit potatoes they will appear above ground earlier than non-chitted potatoes - by a few days. Take that into account if you want to chit potatoes.

The only exception might be potatoes grown in containers where you can cover them if a frost threatens.

There are things you can do to protect those growing in the ground from frost, too. Earthing them up is the simplest way. Fleece is another option.

[Penellype]

I've never understood this chit or don't chit potatoes. Unless you keep them in the fridge, once the temperature warms up a bit the potatoes will sprout. If you buy a bag of seed potatoes and leave them in the dark you will get long white chits which get tangled up in the (usually) net bag and break easily. If you take them out and put them in egg boxes or similar in a fairly light place they will grow short, strong green chits that don't break. To me it is a no-brainer - you buy the potatoes and take them out of the bag whenever they arrive. You put them somewhere where they will not grow long, fragile chits and you plant them when you are ready to do so. The chits may be an inch or more long by this time or they may stlll be just a small bud - it doesn't matter.

I don't chit my potatoes, they chit themselves.