[Chris C]

Hi All
I have another newbi question for you all....how long before planting my seed potetoes should i chit them for ??

Thanks Chris

[JayG]

DD's the expert on this; expect he'll be along soon!! 

[gardener247]

chit now about 4 to 6 weeks before planting is what i do

[Ice]

Have a look in the search facility, there have numerous threads about this lately.

[DD.]

I just set mine up as soon as I get them. It's a convenient way to store them. I found some in the shed last year that had been chitting for 5 months, (Jan-June), the chits were still no more than an inch long.

Iain@JBA is the spud expert, by the way.

[DD.]

Have a look in the search facility, there have numerous threads about this lately.

There's been more than numerous!!!!

[JayG]

Iain@JBA is the spud expert, by the way.

You're just being modest, DD! 

[DD.]

No, it really is true!

[Chris C]

Thanks All

Quick experts advice as always.....really appreciated by someone completely new to internet forums and allotments.

Chris

[Pompey Spud]

Lots of expert people say that chitting has no benfit...others say it does.

By chitting..you are quickening the life expectancy of the spud. So in theory you are getting them off to a quick start which in turn may give lower crop yields.

I'm chitting main crop but not earlies.

[Yabba]

I haven't even got my spuds yet! Y'all are in such a rush :roll:

¥

[JayG]

I blame the shops for stocking them too early; nobody wants to be left with either no choice or even no spuds! 

[Yabba]

Well, they've got nothing else to sell between Christmas and valentines except spuds

Main problem it causes is that people who know when to buy what are forced to buy early because stocks run out and they're onto the "next big item for the year".

note : I don't know when to buy what, I just know that my spud bed will be a pond until late april, so 6 weeks before is still a while off #

¥

[Glosterboy]

"Lots of expert people say that chitting has no benfit...others say it does.

By chitting..you are quickening the life expectancy of the spud. So in theory you are getting them off to a quick start which in turn may give lower crop yields.

I'm chitting main crop but not earlies."

Am I right in thinking that seed potatoes (albeit earlies, seconds or main) will chit, full stop?

If left in the dark, chit white and leggy? If left in the light, chit green and short?

[mumofstig]

I'm chitting main crop but not earlies

Most people do it the other way around? They chit the earlies so that they produce new potatoes as early as possible. With main crop taking so long anyway, chitting wouldn't make any difference to them.
So what's your reasoning for doing it the other way round Pompey....I like it if someone has found a 'better' way