[grjones]

I bought some seed potatoes and they gave arrived early, I've just noticed that they are already sprouting as are the onions I bought!

I kept them in doors and wonder if this had anything to do with the growth, now in a dark cupboard in the shed!

Hope I haven't ruined them or their chances of growing???

[digalotty]

potatoes need to be in a cool light place now like a windowsill,  if you put them in a dark place the sprouts on them will be long and white and brittle ,   if they have already started  to grow then knock them off and put in a light cool place and they will grow back nice and green .

it takes about 6weeks for them to chit so now is a good time to get them going.

[JayG]

Warmth will start the potato chitting process off with or without light; if the chits have only just started put them into a cool room with some daylight (a north-facing bedroom windowsill is perfect if only background heated.)

If the chits are already long and white you would be better rubbing them all off and re-chitting as above.


Not so sure about the onion sets; they aren't usually planted out until mid-March at the earliest but you don't want them shrinking away in a bag until then.

You might get away with planting them outside if your soil is not too cold and waterlogged, but others may advise potting them up for a few weeks................

[grjones]

Thanks for the info, I'll do that In the morning.

As for the onions? What should I do with them? I've just put em in the shed for the time being as my soil is drowned at the moment!

[TheSpartacat]

I have a similar problem with my onions.... i was going to pop them in the bottom of the fridge to slow them down... Anyone tried that before?

[DD.]

It's most certainly the warmth that's started them, (the onions). Mine are outside in the garage in the cool.

Pop them close togther in a tray of compost. They can be making root and taking up moisture to prevent drying out.