A reminder about Chitting potatoes

[Aberdeenplotter]

Over the past few days, I've seen references to chitting potatoes in current threads.

There have been numerous threads over the years about chitting.

For those that haven't had my tuppence worth on this before (and apologies once again to those who have) chitting makes no difference - to the ultimate crop. It may encourage a slightly earlier crop but essentially chitting is simply a way of controlling the growth of the potato sprouts before planting. Commercial growers keep their seed potatoes in carefully controlled conditions and low temperatures for that are essential. We lesser mortals don't have temperature controlled warehouse conditions however and for most of us, keeping the seed potatoes indoors is the only way we have of protecting them from frost. If kept in the dark with even the slightest amount of heat, long spindly easily broken sprouts will develop. However, if kept in open light, the sprouts/chits which develop, will be small, stubby and robust and they will keep in that state until suitable planting conditions are available.


Do I chit my seed potatoes? Depends on when I buy them. If bought within 10 - 14 days of my intended planting date, I don't bother. If bought earlier I do but simply to prevent long sprouts developing.

Potatoes not set up to chit before planting will catch up.

[Thelma Sanders]

I think you're right about 2nds and main crop catching up if they aren't chitted, but seem to remember some trials/research that showed it really is worth chitting the earlies, so that's what I do

JBA say

Early cultivars will mature up to two weeks earlier from properly chitted seed than from unchitted seed.

Chitting Potatoes | Sprouting Potatoes

[sparrow100]

Am with Thelma - I chit and plant some firsts in mid Feb so I can be all smug about super-early spuds in May...

[Aberdeenplotter]

I have said chitting may encourage a slightly earlier crop Thelma but I don't disagree with the point you make about earlies which will mature in 8 - 10 weeks depending on where they are grown. With such a short growing period, there isn't much opportunity to catch up .

[Nicos]

I suppose you also need to take into consideration when your last first date is.
Mine is early June, so I've absolutely no chance of getting first earlies in May!

Therefore I only chit for the reasons AP suggests.
It's no fun trying to snip a mesh bag to disentangle the shoots, and seems a waste of their energy by rubbing the shoots off and starting again.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I chit my spuds for three reasons.

(1) I have already received this years tubers, what else would I do with them?

(2) I do love new spuds and believe I can get a crop a little earlier.

(3) To prove the viability of shop bought spuds I fancy growing.

[sparrow100]

I suppose you also need to take into consideration when your last first date is.
Mine is early June, so I've absolutely no chance of getting first earlies in May!

I have an earlier last frost date, but the growing spuds are kept in the greenhouse after they come up in March - fleeced and bubblewrapped if need be, but not in my tiny flat!

[Bigmallly]

I suppose you also need to take into consideration when your last first date is.

You need to keep off the Vino Nic.................

[Chris11]

I'm in the chitting camp.
At the very least, if they're going to chit anyway, better to do it on an eggbox in light, rather than just leave them in a cupboard.

And if you plant them unchitted, how do you know where the shoots are sprouting from? Surely if they've been chitted, you can plant them at what looks like the best angle and position?

[WendyC]

I have a chitting dilemma this year. My chitting room or propagator room is now being inhabited by No1 son back from uni. I have suggested he would like to move his computer and allow 60 odd spuds desk space but for some reason he's not keen.
I expect my potato order will arrive in the next week or two so my choices are the potting bench in the shed or the garage. The shed is light but I have had seed potatoes freeze and bake in there at different times. The garage is darker but with some natural light and probably less temperature variation.
Which one would you go for?

[Thelma Sanders]

As long as the garage is above freezing, and you can get them near to the light, I'd go for the garage.

Also, if we get a cold snap it's nearer to rush out and cover them with something lol

[Kirk]

I recall "chitting" coming up on a program about Jersey Royals. Must be 5-8 years back.
They chitted but not for the reason I keep reading of that people in general do it for.

They chitted and got 3 chits say, then rubbed out the chits, potato "panics" and sends out 5 new chits, this is what they planted. Each chit meant a new stem and so more potato's.

I suspect that if you chit and then plant you get the same number of stems as if you did not chit. The spud is still likely to throw out 3 stems.

My problem with chitting is the very high chance of breaking a chit, and not sure if it would regrow and suspect not.

[Thelma Sanders]

Broken chits do regrow

[WPG]

Mine arrived early and are already chitting on the stairs window sill - it's the only bright window without a radiator. The egg boxes are much wider than the sill, so I'm slightly neurotic about the thought of them falling off and getting all mixed up. I suppose I could colour code each potato, just in case.

[Penellype]

I recall "chitting" coming up on a program about Jersey Royals. Must be 5-8 years back.
They chitted but not for the reason I keep reading of that people in general do it for.

They chitted and got 3 chits say, then rubbed out the chits, potato "panics" and sends out 5 new chits, this is what they planted. Each chit meant a new stem and so more potato's.

I suspect that if you chit and then plant you get the same number of stems as if you did not chit. The spud is still likely to throw out 3 stems.

My problem with chitting is the very high chance of breaking a chit, and not sure if it would regrow and suspect not.

Interesting about the number of stems. I'm sure I read somewhere that if you have lots of stems you get lots of small potatoes, if you have fewer stems you get fewer but bigger potatoes.