Too early spuds?

[murray]

Hello all. I received some Foremost spuds today. the instructions tell me how to start chitting them. Surely, at the moment, it's too early? They also say plant in late Feb. How long do they take to chit? Not almost two months, surely? If not, how do I keep them dormant until they are kicked into action? any advice would be a great help, thanks, Murray. ( Dont call me surely!)

[veg4681]

I thought they take roughly about 2 months to chit but we'll see what the following potato experts will have to say on this. Since Foremost is 1st earlies, they can be planted between Jan and Mar according to the link below.

Growing Potatoes - The British Potato Council

I need to be thinking about buying Anya and Vivaldi (2nd earlies) sometime soon if they're to be ready for planting from Feb onwards.

[jacob marley]

Hello all. I received some Foremost spuds today. the instructions tell me how to start chitting them. Surely, at the moment, it's too early? They also say plant in late Feb. How long do they take to chit? Not almost two months, surely? If not, how do I keep them dormant until they are kicked into action? any advice would be a great help, thanks, Murray. ( Dont call me surely!)

First of all you set them in seed trays or old egg trays with the rose end upwards ie-where the eyes are and then put them in a cool frost free place not in the dark else you will get shoots to long they want to be in a light place i put mine on top of a cupboard on the landing .
if your house is one of the modern house's with central heating unless you have a cool place tooked away any way good luck Jacob

[rustylady]

Murray, you may not want to start chitting them yet but you do need to unpack them (especially if they're plastic wrapped). They must be kept cool and light (frost free). If you keep them too warm and dark they will start sending out long white shoots (just like the bag of supermarket spuds you forgot was in the cupboard). How many did you order, and what sort of storage space do you have? I've found a good way is to get hold of some of the big egg trays from the local market, unpack your seed potatoes and place one into each of the egg compartments. Then store on whatever surface is available in a light cool room. The cooler it is the longer it will take them to form shoots. It's a bit of a juggling act, I suppose. I certainly wouldn't consider planting seed potatoes in January - according to the old wives or old boys the traditional date for planting spuds is Good Friday. I usually go for end of March, depending on weather conditions and forecast.

[Flummery]

An unheated room would do. I put mine in the spare room. Egg boxes as already stated. It does take a long time to chit properly. I usually get mine early Jan and plant in the garden end of March (I only grow earlies due to lack of space) I risk them in Feb in big pots in the greenhouse. By the end of March the shoots are short, strong and dark green. They get away really well. Panic not!

[Dobby]

Just opend our seed spuds and they have started to chit already
going to put them in egg boxes or seed trays I thought it was a bit early?
it does not say when to plant

Potato Seed, how to plant them with lots of pictures.

just found this thought it might help

[Protea]

I would definately unpck them and start to chit them - i've not found a way to 'prevent' them from chitting, mine always arrive far too early and although i always think its too early to chit, there's no way round it.

If you want to try some early plantings in Feb, cover the soil now with black plastic to warm it up earlier, then when you plant the seed cover the soil with fleece (you can even cover it with black plastic and remove/cut a hole when the foliage comes through, and fleece on top to keep them extra warm).

You've reminded me i need to order my spuds!

[veg4681]

If you want to try some early plantings in Feb, cover the soil now with black plastic to warm it up earlier, then when you plant the seed cover the soil with fleece (you can even cover it with black plastic and remove/cut a hole when the foliage comes through, and fleece on top to keep them extra warm).

Thanks Protea for the tips, I had wondered if I could do something like to be able to bring the cropping forward.