chitting potatoes

[charlie]

Hi,

How long do you normally chit potatoes for?
I've just bought some, but they don't need to go in the ground until april.
Is it too early to do it now? Or can i plant them earlier than april?

Cheers

[supersprout]

The jury's out on chitting - according to Alan Roman
Don't chit maincrops, Monty Don found reduced yield when he did, and farmers don't.
I chit my earlies/second earlies in a cool, light place for stumpy green chits - only because it feels like Spring with a box chitting away in the spare bedroom
If you get too many shoots, just rub them off.

[Millymollymandy]

I would buy seed potatoes about March because they don't need more than a month for chitting, in my (limited) experience of growing spuds twice!

I found that even if you keep them in a dark cold cupboard to try to keep them from sprouting they still do.

[NZAmish]

Generally you lay out your potatoes to chit about 6 weeks before planting.
Don't do it any earlier otherwise the shoots get too long and the potato shrivels up.

[red]

this year will be my first proper go at growing potatoes - and I have put my seed potatoes out to chit today - following the advice of RHS who say buy them in January as stocks go, unpack and set out to chit as soon as you get them home.. they can be left until May to plant without harm if conditions don't allow planting earlier.
We shall see what happens.

[adekun]

What's the earliest anybody is willing to risk getting some planted? Even over here the weather has been above zero. Last year, we had snow in April. I guess there is a fair chance of getting caught out before then, but it seems a long way off.

[sawfish]

Last year I planted my tatties in early March here in Glasgow and they were fine if a bit frost damaged initially. I'm planting late march this year.