Chitting spuds.... for the last time!

Alex 98 · « **on:** January 22, 2009, 13:07 »

Now, we need to get this straight.

Surely, as soon as the seed spuds hit the shelves, they begin to chit?
Putting them in an ideal environment helps the process.

Why is the main crop seed released at the same time as the earlies?
(transport costs blah, blah, I guess)

Sitting on shelves or in sheds/garages etc can't be good

So having bought all my spuds now......
Rocket
Lady Christi
Int Kidney
Charlotte
Cara
Stemspter

How should I store my main crop seed, in a tray alonside the earlies?

Alex 98

Parsnip · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2009, 13:13 »

I'm going to use Aunt Sally's tip and store mine in the fridge..I've got a fridge freezer running in the garage, the fridge bit is empty it's so perfect way to utilise it...

I think thats right anyway... :?

woodburner · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2009, 14:17 »

Main crop take the longest to mature, so even if you plant them at the same time you will still get successional cropping. In a way you could say that maincrop ought to be on the shelves the first as they take the longest to grow. They can all be planted at the same time so I see no reason why they shouldn't all be on the shelves together.
If you keep them in a cool light place (dark if they aren't starting to grow akready) they should be fine, certainly better than on the shelves in a warm shop! I buy mine as soon as I can (from the market) to be sure of getting the varieties I want.

A bigger question is why are any on the (shop) shelves in January, lol.

DD. · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2009, 17:41 »

Supply and demand is the answer to the last question.

People itching to get on with it too early create the demand which the shops are happy to supply.

This means that others who don't really want to buy too early, are forced to do so before their favourite varieties are sold out.

This in turn leads to storage/chitting problems at home.

So instead of being stored in suppliers warehouses in ideal conditions, they are sitting in the bottom of people's fridges and other obscure places.

I started writing this tongue in cheek, but I wonder if there might not just be a little bit of truth in it!

Iain@JBA · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2009, 17:53 »

The growers sell to the packers.
The packers sell to the retailers.
The retailers buy in January because their customers buy them and so on.
It keeps getting earlier and earlier because they try and capture the trade before other shops have them in stock and this then forces the other shops to buy them for fear of lost custom.

FRUITFULL · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2009, 17:57 »

Wow its as bad as buying a cream egg on new years day.
Its true too my local garden center has sold out of alot of seed tattys already.I had to grab some else where. :roll:

Farmer Fred · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2009, 18:44 »

our allotment shop has sold out of seed spuds already. i havent even got anly first earlies, as they were sold out on sunday. now i have bags of them sitting on the floor of the spare room.

i think impatience plays quite a part.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2009, 18:50 »

... and it all leads to a waste of seed potatoes as many get frosted or otherwise ruined by improper storage before the time is right to chit them.

Crazy world lead by greed - it's not only the bankers who wreck things for us :roll:

PAH48 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2009, 19:57 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

...

Crazy world lead by greed - it's not only the bankers who wreck things for us :roll:

Totally agree, my order turned up today, at least 10 days earlier
than quoted. :shock:
Now I have all the problems I've been reading on here for the past
X'many days :roll: :roll:
3bed semi c/heated, tooo hot :!: G/house down plot tooo cold :!:
No garage, so I've gotta risk the shed, wrap 'em, cover 'em or
whatever.

IF, that little word again, the suppliers would say no to the retailers,

IF , only we all were not so impatient....IF..IF... IF.... :roll: :roll: :roll:

I'll say no more... Bye PAH still

'in

des · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2009, 20:07 »

stick 'em in the fridge till you want them!

Bombers · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2009, 21:02 »

Bl**dy potato merchants, worse than bankers.... linch 'em!

Reading all these threads about tatties I just had to check mine that I bought 2 weeks ago. They are stored in there sacks in the garage. (partial light) It was 10 degrees today, so not really that cool! Not one eye on 'em!! They will be put out in there trays in my Conservatory (north facing) next weekend.

DD. · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2009, 21:03 »

Quote from: "des"

stick 'em in the fridge till you want them!

Haven't we been here?

I think we've gone full circle now!

Parsnip · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2009, 21:23 »

Can you see why pm'd you now..?. :roll:

FRUITFULL · « **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2009, 21:27 »

i agree the chitting spuds are getting over kill.Lets just put them in the fridge

that would be good!

DD. · « **Reply #14 on:** January 22, 2009, 21:27 »

Quote from: "Parsnip"

Can you see why pm'd you now..?. :roll:

Did I ask why?

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