[barbarella]

I  bought my seed potatoes today  - a few each  of several different varieties and a mixture of earlies, second earlies and maincrop - while there was still plenty of choice of loose tubers. 

Now the question of where to chit them.  I have put them on the spare bedroom window sill in previous years but now we have a greenhouse which I am keeping frost free (min 5 degrees C).  Would it be better to chit the spuds in there, maybe on the north side on the bottom shelf of the staging?  Should I put them at the back with maybe some pots in front to keep them out of direct sun?  Also is it okay to put them in the cardboard trays (with ventilation holes in the bottom) which contained satsumas from the cash and carry. 

I know it's not an exact science, but I want to give my spuds the best start in life

[Swing Swang]

Cool light place. Cardboard trays fine.

[digalotty]

im not an expert but that sounds ok to me as long as its cool light and frost free,  why dont you try a couple of each variety on the sill and see weather you get a better or worse crop

[Aidy]

I read recently, and I think it may of been Iian from JBA seeds, but who ever it was said that modern day spuds don't really need chitting nowadays. Myself, I like the old ways so mine will be in my play room, cool, light and talked too. 

[DD.]

Mine go in my frost free greenhouse.

[aelf]

mine sit on egg boxes in the greenhouse. Just bought them today - Charlottes, Desiree and Maris Peer 

Spring is just around the corner - exciting, isn't it?

[barbarella]

I read recently, and I think it may of been Iian from JBA seeds, but who ever it was said that modern day spuds don't really need chitting nowadays.

I know what you mean Aidy - that's been said on Gardeners' World as well.  I think the consensus was that it might be worth doing for earlies, and it wouldn't hurt the others. 

As I have to do something with them until planting time (mid-March for the earlies?) they may as well be chitting - or is there an alternative?

Thanks to everyone else for the good advice - I will go for the greenhouse option.

[Ice]

I don't chit, never had a problem.

[mumofstig]

I don't chit, never had a problem.

Unless it was constipation  OK I'll get me coat

[madcat]

Mum!  Honestly, you can't get the parents these days ....   

Mine will go on the window shelf in the shed as soon as it gets above freezing - not ideal as it really isn't light enough, but the best I can do.

[Salmo]

The greenhouse sounds fine but do not put them too near to the glass.

If they show no sign of chitting about 4 weeks before you want to plant bring them into the warm for a few days to break their dormancy. I would only bother to do this with earlies you want to plant very early. It will probably not be necessary as first early varieties are usually eager to grow.

[chriscross1966]

North facing windowsill... bright enough to keep the chits stout, doesn't frost, not too warm....

chrisc

[Iain@JBA]

I read recently, and I think it may of been Iain from JBA seeds, but who ever it was said that modern day spuds don't really need chitting nowadays. Myself, I like the old ways so mine will be in my play room, cool, light and talked too. 

Aidy I read that aswell and it was the potato guru Alan Romans that wrote that.
I don't think chitting does any harm and give gardeners something to do at this time of year.

[DD.]

'Twas Alan Romans indeed, from his January newsletter:

“Chitting” is no longer regarded as essential. It is a hangover from mid Victorian times when all varieties were late maincrops requiring a long growing season. Modern varieties have a shorter “biological clock” and if they are started early they finish early with loss of potential yield. Better to keep them cool with the smallest possible bud and plant into warm soil. It is always possible to bring on a small number of earlies for earliest possible crop by chitting in a warm room. Right now it is more important that your tubers are safely insulated or in a temperature controlled environment on a farm (somehow cold store doesn't seem appropriate).

[aelf]

I seem to recall Gardners World (or maybe Monty Don at Berryfields, doing an experiment along these lines - some were chitted, some were not. If memory serves, the yeilds were about the same but the tubers were differnt sizes. Sorry, I can't remember the details