When to chit?

[monkeyboy]

I've bought Red Duke of York (first early) and King Edward (maincrop).

Gardenfocused recommend chitting both the first week of March (ie now):

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/vege...-duke-york.php
https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/vege...ing-edward.php


With the weather being the way it is, would you change this? Should I get cracking?

[Jimny14]

Mine are already chitting have been since they arrived a few weeks ago. I don't think they can come to much harm chitting for a few more weeks longer but I'm sure someone will come along to say I'm wrong soon. Id put em out to chit and then just wait n see when you think that weather has improved to get planting.

[4Shoes]

Not going to be a problem. Back to normal by Easter :-)

[nickdub]

Any time now really, as long as you have somewhere light and frost free to put them.

[bikermike]

mine have been chitting for a few weeks.

most started throwing out shoots very quickly, but my pink fir are only just thinking about it. I'll not out them in for a few weeks.

[Penellype]

I always set mine out to chit as soon as I've bought them, as unless you put them in the fridge they will start to grow anyway. They are better with light and air around them than sitting in a bag, especially in the dark.

[Dalrimple]

Mike I was led to belive that main grop spuds don't need chitting (pink firs)! atb Dal.

[Greenleaves]

I dont chit main crop, as there is no benefit

[Penellype]

Some varieties produce chits faster than others - I always find Desiree is the fastest and Sarpo Mira the slowest of the ones I grow. If you decide not to chit them, what do you do with them between now and planting time?

[nickdub]

Just leave them chitting - they won't come to any harm, as long as they don't get frosted.

[4Shoes]

Mike I was led to belive that main grop spuds don't need chitting (pink firs)! atb Dal.

It does come down to what else you can do with them.
Stick them in a cupboard in house and they sprout with long shoots. Put them in a tray next to the cupboard . Slow chitting. Main will benefit slightly because it will bring forward harvest date, but will not be noticeable unless you have eaten all the others.

Brings back all them study days on the back of a tattie planter (Finals). Only planted chitted early tatties that way (you had to drop then down the spout to the strike of the hammer) Fully automatic for main and 2nd - No chitting there. Planted by the ton

[Dalrimple]

i'm only planting 2nd and mains, so my only problem will be keeping the frost off em !atb Dal.

[Bluenowhere]

Mine have been chitting for a couple of weeks, as others have said doesn’t seem to cause them harm.

Would rather chit my main crop than leave them producing white shoots in the dark. Probably doesn’t make a difference in terms of cropping but I like to see my eyed potatoes looking happy.

[bikermike]

Interesting - I did not know that.
they are very slow (albeit just showing a bit now). I'm hoping to put them in in two weeks' time.