[Chicken Pete]

A bit if advice please. We have just received our seed potatoes ( 1st / 2nd and Main), however, do you put them all in trays for chitting at the same time? if not how do you keep the later ones - 2nd / Main) from chitting?
The reason I am asking as I recently read an article re this and it said only start on the 1st Earlies.
Peter

[Aunt Sally]

I've started chitting my first and seconds this week and will do the mains in a couple of weeks time.  I sometimes chitt all types at the same time but we like to spread the planting labour.

Just work out when you want to plant them and start to chitt about 6 weeks prior to that.

Keep your tubers cool and dark if you don't want them to chitt yet - bottom a the fridge is ideal or a frost free shed (or caravan in my case).

[Chicken Pete]

Thanks Aunt Sally,another question.
The potato seed we brought varies in size quite a lot.
1st earlies averaged 17 per kilo
2nd earlies (Wilja) averaged 19 per kilo
2nd Earlies (Kestrel) averaged 9 per kilo
Main averaged 13 per kilo.

Obviously the fewer potatoes means the seed is bigger, is this dependant on the potato type or is it just the way they have been netted?  Some of the seed are very big could we halve them or is this likely to weaken the seed potato?
All our seed is Scottish basic seed potato brought through our local Allotment Association.
Would appreciate any comments as to why .  Thanks

[DD.]

Seed spuds are sold within a size range and that range is wide enough so that you could have double or so the amount of one to another, so it's pot luck really.

It is not advisable to cut seed spuds in half, as you can let infection in, but if you do, dust the cut surfaces with flowers of sulphur.

I buy my seed loose, so I can avoid buying the really big ones.

[Aunt Sally]

I buy my seed potatoes loose so just buy the number I need rather than by weight.

[DD.]

Moi aussi.