[rainie]

Hello all. I plan to place the spuds to chit, on cardboard egg trays a good idea? How much light do they need?

Do I start my 1st earlies now, and then when planting them, do I then start to chit the 2nds, or do it ealier?

[DD.]

I set all mine up for chitting at the same time, it helps with the storage as I grow a lot. Egg boxes are good, I use them - but only the papier mache type.

This thread from the FAQ section may help.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=3234.0

[rainie]

Great, thank you. Will do them when I can pull myself away from here. 

[Patch]

Hello rainie 

From the book that I have, "The Vegetable & Herb Expert" it says that chitting is essential for earlies and useful for lates.

You can also find more information on chitting, and other advice about growing potatoes here on the website.  Go to:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php

[Kristen]

... chitting is essential for earlies ...

Only in the sense that it makes them as early as possible - the chitting process has already started the potato tuber growing, so once you put it on the ground it doesn't have to go through the "Time to get started" procedure.

Its OK to just plant them, without chitting, but they'll take longer (I don't know how much longer, but I would guess couple of weeks

[Salmo]

There are often big arguments about whether it is worth chitting.

As I see it chitting brings the bulking up period forward a little.

With earlies this means there is a worthwhile crop a little earlier. Which is what we want.

With main crops the final yield may be no greater but if they bulk up earlier they may have a decent yield before blight sets in and the tops have to be removed. Also if the tubers are chitting and planting is delayed by bad weather it does not matter so much as their life cycle has started.

[DD.]

Due to illness last year, my spuds did not go in until the midle of May. However all this time they were set up and chitting.

I had the best crop of spuds ever.

[peapod]

But did you leave all the chits on Dave?

[DD.]

Yup!

[JayG]

Try to chit with the "belly button" end facing down as there are more eyes and therefore more potential shoots at the other ("rose") end.

(The belly button is a small dimple where the tuber was originally attached to the plant.)

[DD.]

Hey - that's my line!

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=51880.msg617303#msg617303

[joyfull]

so then you plant chits up  (another DD line  ).

[DD.]

Awwwww yus.

[Junie]

I may be wrong, but I thought chitting was also to control the number of shoots a seed puts out
If you want many smaller potatoes, leave all shoots, if you want fewer larger potatoes, then reduce the shoots to 2 or 3 before planting out.

this has not been mentioned so far, so I was wondering if any else has heard of this and whether it works.  I have never removed any shoots and have always had quite small potatoes.

[DD.]

That is a well known practice, I've always let nature take it's course.