Chitting large potatoes...

[Nicos]

Bit of advice please!

I bought some Charlotte spuds for chitting from a different shop ...got home, and noticed they are enormous!!!!!!
You could make decent chips from some of them!

so, having never before tried it, I think this is the first year I'm going to have to cut up some of my spuds before planting.

having never tried this before I'm not sure whether to be worried it might go wrong, or excited about trying something new!!!

So...do I chit as normal and then just cut up prior to planting?....
how many chits per piece?
what size should I cut them to?

I don't normally rub off any chits cos I tend to want as many as poss...so if there are only a few chits per piece aren't I likely to get a few large spuds per plant????( not idea for baby new potatoes is it??.)

we need these spuds to see us through the winter, so high and large productivity are needed!
( and yes, we still have a few in store from last year!!)

so..an 'Idiots Guide to cutting up chitted spuds' for best results would be much appreciated

ta muchly in advance!

[Bigmallly]

I have known it to be done with good success Nic, there are lots of Utube vids out there on this subject.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Strange isn't it that new potato seed always seems larger than main crop my Lady C are the same.

I know it has been done with good success but never had the nerve to do it myself, cutting that is.

[Guest]

I cut mine up just before planting making sure there is at least one chit to each piece of cut up spud.

I do not dry the cut
I do not smother the cut in any powders, lotions or potions
I do not take each of the chits off and root them prior to planting
I do not rub any chits off

However, do what you feel comfortable with as I have come across various peeps that have done at least one of each of the above with success

[Jungle Jane]

I'm cutting some of mine this year,I read about a trial & the cut ones produced more than the uncut large ones & to cut them about 3 days before planting to callous over a bit before planting so it doesn't attract slugs,sizes will be like an egg size but it's just large ones cut in half,I wouldn't try & get 3 pieces out of one of mine
Edit to add the trial showing yield ~
http://blog.thompson-morgan.com/sues...potato-trials/

[Bigmallly]

I have heard that it is possible to grow tatties just from peel, as long as it has an eye.

[Penellype]

I've cut seed potatoes in 2 if they are large and I want more plants. I chitted them first, then cut them up and bunged them straight in. The important thing is to have a decent chit on each piece, which means that cutting the potato in half across the narrow part isn't the best way as the chits tend all to be at one end.

Potato plants may well grow from peelings, but whether they would produce a decent crop is another matter. I don't know. But certainly my halved potatoes were fine.

[Nannysally99]

Great question Nicos, I have the same as you with my Charlottes and was thinking could I?
Now I know I can, thanks everyone

[Bigmallly]

I have had spuds grow from peelings, that's why I don't put them in the compost heap.

[Alison]

I chit them first and then cut the up just before planting. I work on the principle that leaving an open wound when chitting will encourage disease so minimise the time. Dunno if this is right but it works well for me.

[Snadger]

Will you not have enough seed tatties if you don't cut them Nicos.? I always work on the asumption that big seed tatties make big spuds.
Charlotte are a second early lifted as an early the same as are Jersey Royals which are a maincrop. They are big because thats the size they will grow to if left to mature.

I don't like cutting seed spuds.

[sparrow100]

I had the same with my Charlottes too. The seller I bought from suggested to cut them but the problem I had was there were very few eyes for chits to come from. They're sending replacements now - hopefully soon.

[Owamya]

No problem with cutting seed potatoes up as it stretches out the crop , I let mine dry out a couple of days before planting. As posted potato peelings will chit and grow if you dig them straight into your plot.

[Dalrimple]

Hi i'm a bit late with this but ,if I lay my bigger seed spuds on thier sides will they chit both ends and if so will I get better yelds ? atb Dal

[Penellype]

Most of the chits will be at the "rose" end, which is the end furthest from where the potato was attached to the original plant. You may find the odd chit at the other end, and some in the middle, on some of the tubers. If there isn't an "eye" then you won't get a chit there.

It probably doesn't matter which way up you chit them as they will grow anyway, but the advice is to chit them rose end up.