Help, my potatoes started themselves

[RobNew]

My seed potatoes arrived in the post about a month ago, buut according to my notes from last year (my first year of growing my own), I started chitting them this weekend.

So I resealed the box, put them away to sleep, and then just got them out today to start chitting them, only to find that they have two to three inch shoots on them! Obviously I didn't seal the box properly, and they've all been growing towards some light that was getting in! And thinkking about it, I should have put the box in the shed to keep it cold, rather than having it in a nice heated house!

Now then, we are quite far north, the Isle of Man, and we still have some snow on high grounds, and according to my notes I didn't plant my taties till end of April last year. So what do I do? Also, when I chitted last year, I put them in the ground when the shoots were only about half a centemeter tall, are two to three inch shoots going to be OK?

Should I plant them now even though the ground is way too cold?

Should I snap off the shoots and start the chitting process again?

Help, I don't know what to do!

Many thanks for anyone who offers advice
Rob

[Bigmallly]

Firstly welcome to the vine RN, I am by no means an expert on growing. You need tattieman for this one but from what I have read if you remove the current sprouts, new ones will grow. Please don't do it until confirmed by a more knowledgable grape.

[weekendwellies]

You could cover the ground you plan to put them into for a week or so with some polythene stuff. The garden variety. This warms the ground a bit, it may be enough for the tatties to go in. I would personally not break off the shoots as it will be warm enough in the next few weeks to plant them, and just put them in with enough soil to cover the shoots, and they should be fine.
Breaking off the shoots can be done, but all the energy that has been put into sending them out will be wasted and the spuds have to start the process all over again.
I am no expert but that is my opinion.

[pipscariad]

Welcome to the Vine RobNew . I had the same problem with some of mine this year, and have to confess that I took the plunge and broke the shoots off. After a few anxious weeks when nothing seemed to be happening and I thought I'd ruined them, new shoots have indeed grown. However, weekend wellies post above may be worth a try, as the weather will be warming up afore long (surely ?!).

If our resident expert Tattieman comes along and says not to remove the shoots, I'd follow his advice, rather than think you'll do what I did - I may have ruined my potatoes chances!

[elsie-scot]

Guessing they are first or second earlies.

I have read that some people choose to break the first shoots as they believe that makes the tattie stronger - can't figure that out since to produce shoots it need to use up reserved energy.

I'd break of any shoots going in the wrong direction i.e. if ones at both ends, break off one side.

And as said above, get the ground covered where you are to plan, I've got fleece over where I am going to plant out as that can bring your planting date forward by a couple of weeks.

[rustylady]

You really should unpack seed potatoes as soon as you get them. Warm and dark equals long sprouts.

[Liza]

hmm horse and bolt the door sping to mind !

Help Tattieman !

[stella]

The trouble is if this weather does not soon start to warm up the growing season is really going to get off to a late start. I have a feeling a lot of us are holding back seedlings waiting for spring.

[falkon]

The trouble is if this weather does not soon start to warm up the growing season is really going to get off to a late start. I have a feeling a lot of us are holding back seedlings waiting for spring.

roger that!! .. I have 70 tomato seedlings on my window and waiting for the weather to warm up... bah.. the garden outside is still under snow.... lets hope for the best... no more space around to sow more

[Jeanied]

My taters get planted out on or near Good Friday - they are in the light chitting at the moment. I would have removed any long shoots as long as I can see some replacement buds. All on track this year.

[Suky]

check out the potato thread that is (I think) sticky'd at the top of 'new shoots'. I am pretty sure that Tattieman said if you rub out the shoots they will grow again, You will only lose them if you cut then out totally.