Chitting potatoes outside

[Nik]

So I got a bit excited and bought lots of seed potatoes from the garden centre (Cara, Pink Fir Apple, Swift and Desiree), but got home and realised I don't really have the space to chit them indoors where small children won't try and eat/throw/play football with them.

So can I put them outside in the blowaway? Do they actually need to be in the warm in order to sprout and could a very cold night kill them before they've started?

[rustylady]

They don't need to be very warm, they do need light and no frost. How old are your children?

[arpoet]

Try putting them on top of kitchen units in egg boxes or trays.. or.. top of wardrobes.
Roger

[zazen999]

I'd put them in the blowaway, use modules rather than egg boxes, and throw a fleece over them for the next few weeks. You might have to bring them in if really cold weather is forecast and put them somewhere out of the reach of the young ones...

[Nik]

18m and 3yo. Believe me, they will not be safe. We have fitted wardrobes so no space there. I think I will have to risk the blowaway.

[veggiechicken]

Bribe your neighbour to look after them (the potatoes!)

[Florence Fennel]

Some say it's not necessary to chit them Nik

[Aberdeenplotter]

Some say it's not necessary to chit them Nik

It's not but if they are allowed to sprout in the dark, the sprouts will get long and leggy. Sprouting in daylight keeps the sprouts short and stubby and strong.

[solway cropper]

Some say it's not necessary to chit them Nik

And further to what AP says, once the dormancy is broken they'll sprout whether you like it or not so you might as well chit them properly. You're not going to be able to get them in the ground just yet so chit them somewhere cool and light.

[Currysniffa]

I don't have much room to chit potatoes, so I take the suitcases off the top of the wardrobes and pop them up there to chit, works a treat

[Two_Sheds]

can I put them outside in the blowaway?

I have mine in the unheated gh. So long as they don't get frosted they'll be OK

[VirginVegGrower]

Dining table...TV dinners for six weeks anyone?

[kathyd]

I didn't chit any of mine last year, and they seemed fine.. Kept them in the fridge until I was ready to plant, then stuck them in the earth. I covered them with 6" straw, and hardly touched them until ready to harvest. Worked fab for second earlies, but the maincrop got blight and scab. Going to try the straw again this year, but must admit am trying chitting them this time too, just for a change .

[zazen999]

Bribe your neighbour to look after them (the potatoes!)

It would be a bit of a 'Tales of the Unexpected' moment when they invite you round for a slap up roast dinner and s/he notices loads of empty egg boxes piled up by the back door.

[veggiechicken]

A neighbour of mine, with an old car that never left the drive, used to grow his tomatoes in it. Fantastic crops too!
So how about chitting potatoes in the car?