[MickyB]

My order arrived today and I have a couple of question which in all probability have already been answered on the forum but as the questions are on a popular subject a search throws up page after page of results which would be laborious to search through in order to gain the information that I am seeking, so before I begin apologies for repeating the same questions but I hope you understand my reasons for doing so. 

My seed potato order consisted of Blue Kestrel, Desiree, Pentland Javelin, Romano, Golden Wonder and Estima, I have set them off chitting today however some (but not all) of the Blue Kestrel's already have quite long shoots growing from them should I remove these, leave them or treat them differently from the others to try and slow them down a bit whilst the others catch up? All the other potatoes have eyes with no (or very little) growth the Blue Kestrels are the odd ones out of the bunch, is this typical of the variety?

The instruction label states that they should be brought into the light two weeks before planting out, I was thinking the chitting process would take between six and eight weeks so I ordered early to allow for this, will they be OK to leave longer? I have put them in egg boxes and trays on the windowsill is this the right method to use?

I have also received onions and shallots, I think it is too early to plant these out so what is the best way to store them until I am ready for them or would it be best to set them away in the greenhouse and plant out at a later date.

 

[gavinjconway]

Rub the long chits off and start again. Give them a good light source in a warmish area and dont let them get frosted. On window sills out of direct sunlight will be fine. They are not mushrooms so must not be chitted in the dark - thats what causes long white chits. Very strange that they say bring into light 2 weeks before planting... that is rubbish.

Too early for you onions so keep them in a good cool place. Mine are in my loft.

[Yana]

Rub the long chits off and start again. Give them a good light source in a warmish area and dont let them get frosted. On window sills out of direct sunlight will be fine. They are not mushrooms so must not be chitted in the dark - thats what causes long white chits. Very strange that they say bring into light 2 weeks before planting... that is rubbish.

Too early for you onions so keep them in a good cool place. Mine are in my loft.

You keep the onion sets in the loft to stop them sprouting?

[gavinjconway]

I always get the the sets around end of Jan, pop them into the loft and take them out end of Feb and plant first or second week in March.. depends on the weather tho..

This year I have thrown them onto a shelf in my garage.. they seem to be keeping fine. Nothing sprouting from them yet.

[richie3846]

I use the loft to keep shallots dormant too. I've had Red Sun in there since the end of January. They are still completely dormant and will stay there for 4 weeks longer unless they start shooting.

[Yana]

I use the loft to keep shallots dormant too. I've had Red Sun in there since the end of January. They are still completely dormant and will stay there for 4 weeks longer unless they start shooting.

Righto then. Garage it is.
Last year I didn't get my onion sets until later, but this year I got them a while ago and they started sprouting so I put them into modules. I've got a second lot as seems that the first lot are likely to bolt.

[MickyB]

Thanks for the tips.