[Small Potatoes]

Hi, got a few questions...
I've got my spuds chitting, my maincrops are rather small seed pots and are chitting nicely with about 3 shoots per spud but my earlies are very large and producing about 6+ shoots per spud. It looks like my earlies will be fully chitted later than my maincrops. I've read of people rubbing off all but 3 shoots from large seed pots but have also read not to do this. What should I do: rub em off in the hope it'll spur the remaining shoots to catch up? or not bother and plant them out at the designated time with lots of small/short shoots?
Also I've got broad beans in hairy pots, enjoying the luxury of a south facing window. These have come up and a big root is popping through the bottom of each pot and snaking about in the tray. Should I harden them off as they are or pot them up first?
Sorry about the waffleyness!
Cheers!

[paintedlady]

Hi SP,

Hopefully someone with more experience with potatoes can answer your questions.  IMHO I wouldn't worry about it - I don't rub off any of the sprouts although I had also heard that about only keeping 3.  It hasn't been a problem for me in the past.....

Broadbeans - repot them asap and then start hardening them off (not in this wind though!)  Wait for calmer weather and if you can into a cold frame or something that shelters the plants from draughts.  Its a bit unusual to be growing broadbeans on a windowsill though I will admit to getting them to germinate indoors and then straight outside as soon as I can (in pots), only bringing them in if the weather is going to be really dire.

[compostqueen]

my broad beans are just like that     Mine are in the greenhouse and grew out the bottom of the posts so I thought there were sulking.  They'll get planted out just as soon as the wind and rain abates

I've never hardened em off before but I think you're probably right about that - lessens the shock I suppose  

[Small Potatoes]

Thanks paintedlady and compost queen,
Those beans will be repotted and relocated first thing in the 'morrow and I'll leave those spuds as they are.
Cheers!  

[gobs]

Well done, don't worry about even for a second and size of seed pot beyond a certain minimum does not matter, either.

[Aidy]

I use to to keep to three chits on tats, but on any more. So long as they are healthy go for it. I will knock off any that are not in the group, sometimes you will find the odd sprut appear at the bottom so that gets knocked off.