[tansmum]

I understand that I need to chit the little blighters. I have a selection of earlies, 2nd earlies and maincrop.  Do I chit them all now??  Do they all get planted at the same time??

[brucesgirl]

I set the earlies and second earlies out to chit a couple of weeks ago, I will plant them at Easter if the ground is not too wet and cold.
I set the maincrop out to chit yesterday, and will plant them Mid-April.

If you start them now it will be absolutely fine.
 

[Lynne]

I set the earlies and second earlies out to chit a couple of weeks ago, I will plant them at Easter if the ground is not too wet and cold.
I set the maincrop out to chit yesterday, and will plant them Mid-April.

If you start them now it will be absolutely fine.
 

I've done exactly the same, and also plan to put out at Easter. I bet allotments across the land will be busy over Easter.  

[Sally A]

Easter's a good time this year.  this forum should be so quiet in the daytime as we'll all be out diddling with veg.

[crackedflowerpots]

I understand that I need to chit the little blighters. I have a selection of earlies, 2nd earlies and maincrop.  Do I chit them all now??  Do they all get planted at the same time??

we  chit them all and plant them at the same time (back permitting) and harvest when ready this works for us

[jolly jen]

ok im a newie here,what is chitting please

[Gwiz]

ok im a newie here,what is chitting please

Its the "act" of setting your seed potato's out in a frost free place for them to sprout, before you plant them in the ground.
It's something that veg growers have been doing since the beginning of time, but it would seem that there is some evidence to suggest it isn't worth the effort.
I don't bother, and get great spuds.

Ask a hundred different gardeners the same question, and get at least 90 different answers!

[jolly jen]

ok im a newie here,what is chitting please

Its the "act" of setting your seed potato's out in a frost free place for them to sprout, before you plant them in the ground.
It's something that veg growers have been doing since the beginning of time, but it would seem that there is some evidence to suggest it isn't worth the effort.
I don't bother, and get great spuds.

Ask a hundred different gardeners the same question, and get at least 90 different answers!

ok thanks,,,
well i suppose this is the same thing that i have done then,i had some that were sprouting at home from my veg rack ,so i put them in a plastic bag and have put them in the dark under the stairs,same thing?

[Gwiz]

don't put them in a plastic bag, JJ, they tend to rot if you do. I think most people tend to spread them out in the open air. I'm not too sure about dark, I don't think it's too important, but I'm sure another sucssefull lottie owner will say something else in a second or two......

[jolly jen]

thanks i'll put them in a tray then,,,,,,the nearest i have been to growing veg before is carrots in pots and lettuce n tomts,,,,



bit scary ,hope i get it right.

[Gwiz]

thanks i'll put them in a tray then,,,,,,the nearest i have been to growing veg before is carrots in pots and lettuce n tomts,,,,



bit scary ,hope i get it right.

If you don't,
Don't panic! something'll happen, and I'm sure it will taste nice.
Just follow the instructions on the packets of seeds, and you can't go far wrong....

[Trillium]

If you're chitting, then you put the sprouting spuds in the light so they can make shorter, stronger sprouts.
If left in the dark, the sprouts are pale, leggy, and are a bit slow to start once in the ground.

Like Gwiz, I don't chit mine at all and we get great crops, but we over here do only a main crop rather than all sorts of earlies.

[matron]

I chit mine all at the same time and plant all at the same time. To chit them I put them in half an egg box and put them on the windowsills.

[Clampit]

Mine are in garage near the window, first earlies, second earlies and maincrops. I always chit my spuds but thats probably because my parents did and my grandparents before them, plus, it's all part of the build up of the new season for me. Can't wait!

[Gwiz]

hi, clampit.
I DO like your signature..