Chitting and planting potatoes

[Iamhanuman]

i'm with you all on the rain/nutrient thing
I think Duk21's fellow plot holder is missing some nutrients themselves

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Is this ready to go in the ground?:

[Demeter]

It looks like it has been in the dark - the shoot is white, and it looks like it would probably break when planted. If you are planting in compost then plant it and be damned (just be gentle). If you are planting in soil, especially heavy soil, I wouldn't be so sure.

(My kestrels went like that as I'd forgotten to get them out of the bag and chit them, but after a few days in moderate light the shoots have all gone dark purple and now look much healthier. Will go in when I get around to it, everything else is already planted.)

[Cosmo and Dibs]

So I should leave them out in the light for a while? They are going in a trench in soil, but I'll fill the trench with compost.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Not that I know much, but I would plant those (thats my opinion only tho!) At least its got a good growth on it - I left it too late last year and mine didnt do much. Everyone else on the Vine will know more than me - or you could always plant it and see?

[Demeter]

Well I'm no expert but if it were me (and a week or so ago it was!!) then unless I had a pressing need to plant them straight away, I'd leave them in the light for a bit and see if those shoots thicken up and get a bit stronger. But if you are covering them in compost then you may get away with it...

[tattieman]

Cosmo and Dibs I think your potatoes will be fine if your planting them in compost.
If you think about it those are the type of shoots that would grow in the dark in the ground anyway. The reason to place them into the light is so that the chits are harder than normal and don't break off during planting.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I've been told by someone else that I should rub off all the long shoots and wait for new sprouts. How does that sound?

[Iamhanuman]

c&d - if its compost atop those blighters just plant them now
cover them lightly (see tattieman's vids here)

[Norburger]

I didnt know I was getting my plot until end of Feb so could only order then... Mine are i the spare bedroom with the rad off, average temp around 13... seem to be doing will.. this is 2 lots of first earlies.

Swift & Accent variety

[anthonyjb]

spuds

My spuds are chitting ok in egg boxes ,is it the right time to put them in the ground

thanks

[jacob marley]

any time now provided you are not in a frost pocket mine went in some time ago ....jacob

[aes]

Knickers in a twist about tatties!!



Hi folks,

I am totally new to all this gardening thing so bare with me! I have just bought a seed potato starter kit comprising 5 tubers each of Flourball, Beauty of Bute, Tuskar and Dark Red Norland. At the moment all are sitting happily in egg boxes in an airing cupboard sprouting away. The kit came with three bags which measure about 18"x18"x24", it says to plant 4 tubers per bag - which I think would be excessive as there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of room for growing in there!

Has anyone got any experience of these kits? Also, when would be the best time to plant them - I'm thinking around about easter - as we still have a flutter of snow up here (North Scotland). Are these kits generally quite reliable? I bought them from Scottish seed potatoes and growing potatoes - Buy seed potatoes from Jamieson Brothers Annan.

I look forward to hearing what you all have to say!

aes.

[shirlthegirl43]

First of all, get the spuds out of the airing cupboard and put them somewhere bright but out of direct sunlight.

hello and welcome by the way.

If you read through the various threads on container growing and spud growing you should find the other answers.

[selfraising]

Hi and welcome as shirlthegirl says take spuds out of airing cupboard. There is a good video thread on here by tattieman which shows you what to do with spuds.