[debih]

This year we have four varieties of potatoes (Int Kidney - first early, Shetland Black - second early and Maris Piper and Peach Bloom - maincrops).

My first earlies are chitting in a windowsill ready to plant out in the next week or so.  I was going to chit my second earlies when the firsts went in and plant them out at around the end of April and then repeat the process with the maincrops, planting them out in late April/early May. 

First of all - are my timings about right?

Secondly - I have been storing the second earlies and maincrops in a cupboard in the dining room and I got them out today to move them and they all have long thin tubers coming off them, as though they have been chitted for ages.  Because of this should I a) plant them out now or b) break these tubers off and chit them in the window sill when I intended to chit them anyway.

Sorry if the questions are a little stupid but I want to get it right.

[mumofstig]

All the potatoes, 1sts, 2nd, and mains can be planted at the same time.
The numbers refer to the rate at which they develop rather than the order to plant them in.

Look at the potato info page for the explanation
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php

With the long white chits, I'd rub them off..they will grow more, then set them all to chit, till you are ready to plant them.

[debih]

Ah thanks for that - I hadn't realised.

I will get the others in the windowsill tomorrow and get them all in around mid April then.

Much easier.