Seed potatoes

[Alan Thompson]

Advice please on how you get seed potatoes to "chit".
Do you lie them in soil or just in a box, do you have to keep them in the dark? I have had some for about 3 weeks now, laid in a box, the "eyes" have not made any growth, although the tuber itself is looking fairly healthy.
There is also something in my mind that when they do start to "chit" that you remove the first growth and this apparently makes the plant push out more roots. Any comment please?

[Kristof]

Hi Alan, I've just had a quick scout round and got this from the BBC web site.

* Chitting simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting.
* Start chitting from late January in warmer parts of the country or in February in cooler areas, about six weeks before you intend to plant out the potatoes.
* Each seed potato has a more rounded, blunt end that has a number of 'eyes'.
* Stand the tubers with the blunt end uppermost in trays or old egg boxes, with plenty of natural light.
* The potatoes are ready to be planted out when the shoots are 1.5-2.5cm (0.5-1in) long.

I must admit that my seed potatoes stand in the bag they were bought in and get planted straight from there - maybe that's where I'm going wrong!

[Nortonbeak]

There is also something in my mind that when they do start to "chit" that you remove the first growth and this apparently makes the plant push out more roots. Any comment please?

This is certainly the case with some varieties. Each eye at first only produces one shoot. Once removed, it is likely to produce two or three replacement shoots. You will then get a greater crop of potatoes from that seed.

[Alan Thompson]

Thanks folks for the information.
The seed potatoes are doing nothing at the moment, although some that my lady bought for use in the home are going mad with "roots" in the veg. rack! I may try them instead.

[Rosebudkid]

The best advice I can offer is to aim for green shoots about one and a half inches long. If you have long straggly white ones which can sometimes occur, then these should be removed as although they will eventually produce green leaves etc. they will not be the best. I have had Arran Pilot(1st early) aand Maris Peer(2nd early) planted in barrels and bags for some time now and have been earthing up again this afternoon so I am probably a bit earlier being down south. I anticipate getting new potatoes about early June.

Have also got my (several years old ) begonia corms in the greenhouse on dry compost- as yet no sign of any growth but I expect that will take several more weeks.

This has been one of the most delayed springtimes I can remember, in recent years. Lets hope things improve after we alter the clocks!

[Kristof]

Thanks for the advice Rosebukid, I agree about everything being late this year. We put the Geraniums in the greenhouse over winter but I think we might have lost them. We planted tomatoes and peppers indoors and although one lot of tomatoes are about 1.5 inches the rest are only just starting to show.

[Marigold]

This has been one of the most delayed springtimes I can remember, in recent years. Lets hope things improve after we alter the clocks!

Hi Rosebudkid! They're forecasting snow for us on Wednesday - up to eight inches. I hope they're wrong.

Did your Acer survive the winter? We've lost a lot of shrubs. It'll be a visit to the garden centre when it's a bit warmer

[Rosebudkid]

Hi Marigold-Yes the acer survived! It was in a secluded corner so was fairly well protected.

One of my potentillas suffered a fairly major catastrophe though. It was blown over to an angle of 45 degrees although the roots were still in the ground-Its about 5 feet high and about 4-5 feet across so there was quite a weight when the snow was on it. However, as I don't like to give up without a fight(!) I have cut it back quite a lot and by dint of strong nylon ropes and ground stakes have managed to winch it into an upright position. Time will tell whether it will flourish if it does I will try and get a picture in due course.

[Marigold]

Hi Rosebudkid!

I'm pleased your acer is ok. Ours survived too. They seem quite hardy, although they don't look it.

I hope your potentilla pulls through. It should be ok. There are quite a lot in the car parks round here, and the council gardeners cut them down to their stocking tops every year, and they thrive. I don't think I'd want to do that as you'd never get much height. 5 feet is a good height so I hope yours continues to flourish.