Storing seed potatoes

Hi everyone,

I'm a complete novice to this growing lark having only got an allotment last year so apologies if this is a dumb question...

I am going to try and grow some spuds this year for the first time.

Got the allotment favourites collection from Thompson and Morgan which consists of:

FE - Lady Christi
FE - Orla
SE - Kestrel
MC - Sante
MC - Lady Balfour
MC - Cara

I have got the 1st and 2nd earlies chitting away, but what do I do with the MC tubers ?
According to the advice from T&M, I should store them in a cool dry place but won't they also start chitting or grow white spindly shoots if it is dark.

I also got some onion sets and was wondering how to store these also before planting in March.

You may as well start chitting the main crop as well, because you're correct in thinking that they only start anyway.

If kept cool and light they will keep like that for months, and they'll be going in at the end of March or in April - so it's not too soon anyway

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'll chit them all.

I've read that should the frost get to stored potatoes, they can still be viable if they don't turn "mushy" - do you experienced folks think this is correct, or should I try again?

I forgot my chitting potatoes were on a top shelf in my shed (d'oh! worrying about moving seedlings too much) and they spent the recent cold snap out there (plenty of light due to plastic roof, hence them being up high and out of sight).

Some were part-frozen and some sections of some of the spuds have become soft, though not all over on any of them. Should I write these off and start again, or can I leave them as they are and expect that they will mostly pull through? I only spent a few pounds as I will be growing in bags so can easily buy another dozen.

Also, they haven't chitted too much so I wouldn't be taking too much of a step backwards, but obviously I don't want to bin them if they may still be fine. 

Thanks all.

you could try cutting off the soft portions and hope that the cut surface "heals" enough to avoid infection when planted out, but given the relatively low price of seed potatoes I'm not sure I'd actually be happy doing that.

I was thinking about trying that - after all, some people recommend doing that with larger seed potatoes anyway, don't they? To make smaller "chunks" with shoots coming off them.

I think I may just fetch some more first earlies later from Wilkos or somewhere and go with them, as you say, they're pretty cheap and I only need a dozen or so due to lack of room.

only difference will be that keeping them in dark might produce longer shoots over time and you may not want these. 

I think that "might" and "may not want" do not appear in the equation!

I'm saying you won't want these!

Thanks for the replies folks. I'm going to pop to Wilkos on the way home for some new ones to replace any damaged ones, then bring them inside onto a cool windowsill.

Thanks again.