Ready.......steady..........chit!

[brownfingers]

I usually bring my spuds up from the cold dark garage into the unheated back bedroom to chit in late January. In the past, the tubers have never shown signs of shooting until I do. However, this year, Some have thrown some very pasty white sprouts. I've nipped them off so no harm done, but I'm at a loss as to why they have had a change of habit this year? They are Kestrel btw.

[Thelma Sanders]

Because Autumn and Winter have been warm

[Alison]

It was probably warmer than usual

[WendyC]

My stored ones in the garage are a bit sprouty. I can't put my seed potatoes out to chit yet as No1 son is still using his bedroom. We're taking him back to uni tomorrow so it will be all systems go come Saturday.

[Martin H]

I went through my stored Charlottes this evening because we were having some for supper. I've kept them in my shed; I've been worrying a bit about the cold nights but so far they've escaped being frosted. There were white sprouts on about a quarter of them so I rubbed these off. Of the rest I found three rotten ones so I think I'd better go through my other bags of spuds as well.

Supper was lovely though

I'm not going to plant any of my saved ones except for some Ratte; I'm going to buy fresh. This time last year I went to a garden centre and couldn't resist buying all my seed potatoes. But then when the allotment shop opened in February I got some frowns for my lack of support, so this year I'm going to sit on my hands and do the job right. So I won't have anything to chit until the second week of February.

I've got all the egg boxes ready though!

[Bigmallly]

I opened the box of sawdust today thats been stood in the greenhouse since last September. The tatties were in mint condition (Osprey). I always store the ones I save for the following year in sawdust.

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine arrived yesterday (ordered when there was a free p&p offer!) and put to chit

[lottie dolly]

Osprey are really nice,been buying some from the wholesalers,5kg bag for 2.89,they big uns to,mmmmmm,just maybe i now HAVE to put a few of them in the ground,of to have a gurgle,

Having gurgled,seeds at 2kg =4.75 or 2 pk for 8.00,guess what i will be doing,

[Bigmallly]

I know what I'd be doing Lottie, planting the 5kg @ £2.89....................................I've never bought a seed potato, I must try it one day..........

[Penellype]

I've still got an unharvested bag of Desiree in the garage, which I will be starting on tonight. This time last year I was just using the last of the Desiree, which were still in perfect condition. It will be interesting to see how long this lot last (both from the keeping aspect and from me eating them!)

I succumbed to some Rocket at the beginning of the month, which are chitting happily in my spare bedroom. These will be planted in bags in the garage and my friend's greenhouse at the end of the month (unless it is stupidly cold). I'm intending to put the bags on trolleys so I can wheel the plants in and out of the garage to avoid frosts. Not done this before, so no idea if the plants will die from lack of light, die from cold or produce very early tatties!

[Bigmallly]

Good idea Pene, you've nowt to lose.

[brownfingers]

I wrap mine in black weed suppressing fabric and then store them in a polystyrene box.

[Stan79]

Got my Charlottes ordered today. Not going for anything more exotic. Just sticking to what has worked for the past few years.