[GreyScales]

Made a bit of a novice mistake today. Was browsing around and on impulse threw a £1 bag of swift potatoes in my basket, only recalling when outside that it's January and our last frost date isn't until May...

Those big filled displays of potatoes this time of year can mislead the mind at times So now I've got a bag of rooty looking potatoes but still plenty of cold on the way.

The thing is I haven't grown potatoes seriously before, this year was going to be the first proper go with containers. So I don't know if they're going to keep until May or if I'm better off calling it a loss and binning them. Looking around online people recommend chitting them over this period, but they look quite rooty already to me  I think I recall reading white roots are not good.

What's everyone's thoughts? Keep (suggested method of storing?) or throw?

[mumofstig]

Rub white chits off and put them somewhere light and cool /cold (but mustn't get frosted)

They'll slowly tick over til you can plant them   

[GreyScales]

Rub white chits off and put them somewhere light and cool /cold (but mustn't get frosted)

They'll slowly tick over til you can plant them   

Ah I was under the impression that the white roots meant they wouldn't keep as long? Well I'll certainly give it a go. If they go bad they were cheap enough

[snow white]

they are leggy chits, not roots.  As Mumofstig sayes, rub them off and put in a cool light place.  Most potatoes go in end March/April.  Well down in Suffolk they do anyway.  Not sure when our last frosts dates are, usually May if I recall.

[madcat]

As everyone says, off with the chits, into the cool and no harm done.

Swifts are first first earlies so end march it the soil and keep them heaped up as long as you can as they come through.  If they are up, and you cant earth them up any more,  and a frost threatens - then cover with whatever you have!  Fleece, dust sheets, just to give them a bit more protection.  If the tops get a bit blackened they will recover.