Chitting potatoes

[Pies]

could that three weeks make any difference to weather you avoid blight or not?

[tattieman]

could that three weeks make any difference to weather you avoid blight or not?

Lets say that late blight hits your area at the start of August and your potatoes are normally ready by the last week in August. Those 3 weeks could make a big difference to your maincrops.

[Rocketron]

In the latest news from the potato council independant trials found that chitting all seed potatoes was a major benefit to potato growers. It concluded that crops including maincrops could be harvested as much as upto 3 weeks earlier than non chitted crops. The savings for potato growers were into the thousands as the crops grew for a shorter period and required less spraying which saved alot of money.

Spraying with what, if you please,Tattieman ?
I used Bordeaux mixture last year, but would love a "heads-up" on an alternative that Commercial Growers use.

[tattieman]

Spraying with what, if you please,Tattieman ?
I used Bordeaux mixture last year, but would love a "heads-up" on an alternative that Commercial Growers use.

The stuff we use requires a license but I think the main thing is to use the new non Dithane spray that is out now as a preventative spray every 7 days.
We normally spray very early in the morning so that the spray has time to dry and stick before the heat of the day.
I read the other night that if you keep the haulms dry that the blight spores can't reproduce as they need moisture. They were using big white tents in their garden. I did wonder if you could use fleece over the top of the rows if you have a serious problem.

[chris]

So... I should take my maris pipers out of the fridge and begin to chit them?

man, MORE egg boxes needd!!

[OllieMartin]

Question:
I bought some 1st Early seed tatties a while back and popped them under the stairs. Just checked on them and some of them have shoots on upto 14cm (5") long!
I wasn't planning on planting them out until March, but I'm concerned I've chitted them too early. Or doesn't it matter?

[Pies]

Question:
I bought some 1st Early seed tatties a while back and popped them under the stairs. Just checked on them and some of them have shoots on upto 14cm (5") long!
I wasn't planning on planting them out until March, but I'm concerned I've chitted them too early. Or doesn't it matter?

did they have access to any light? you want short stubby purple shoots,long ones are usually white and caused by not having any light

[OllieMartin]

did they have access to any light? you want short stubby purple shoots,long ones are usually white and caused by not having any light

Doh! I put them in the light, and then read somewhere that they should be out of the light!
Should I rub the long ones off and move them out from under the stairs?

[gojiberry]

Main crop aren't an option for me due to blight, so I only grow first and second earlies. I don't worry to much about chitting if they do they do if they don't they don't. Either way I don't loose any sleep over it. I do find that some potatoes chit easier than others. Charlotte seem to start chitting in January regardless of how I keep them. I tried a sarpo variety a couple of years age and they just would not chit.

Ian

[chris]

bah! Pulled my Maris Piper out the frigdge, and about 6 of them were rotten/moudly - or really soft.

Binned them - have 4 let, started to chit them, they're really small mind.

anyone know of an online shop that sells low qty seed spuds?

i.e. I dont want a kilo odd, as I'm growing in bags

[Liza]

My Grandad used to plant his spuds on "Good Friday" every year.

[Flummery]

That's traditional - but it's also an early example of moon planting. Easter's date depends on the phase of the moon.

[Bumbler]

bah! Pulled my Maris Piper out the frigdge, and about 6 of them were rotten/moudly - or really soft.

Binned them - have 4 let, started to chit them, they're really small mind.

anyone know of an online shop that sells low qty seed spuds?

i.e. I dont want a kilo odd, as I'm growing in bags

Hi Chrismarks - I got mine this year from dobies mail order online as they were offering smaller amounts plus one offer of a few varieties for a very reasonable price:

Potato Dobies Connoisseurs Collection, Potatoes for all seasons! Seed Potatoes

There are others too I think.

This way I dont over commit myself to too many tatties in my first year

Dawn

[Brengirl]

I am chitting Smile and Red King Edwards. They are coming on well and should be ready to plant out in March. Weather permitting. Do you think I will get earlies from either of them?

[HeyWayne]

Bought some seed potatoes at the weekend. Golden Wonder, and I think either Sante or Kestrel. LadyWayne picked up some long looking salad potatoes too, but I didn't see what name they were.

Traditionally I've chitted my potatoes by the back door (North facing - plenty of light), but with Bean crawling about now that would be asking for trouble.

I'm guessing they'd not be alright in my unheated greenhouse thingy?