Friday 31 January 2014

Chitting potatoes

Having bought my seed potatoes last weekend, my mind has turned now to chitting..

Seed tubers of "Pink Fir Apple"

"Chitting" is the process whereby prior to planting, seed potato tubers are allowed to form short sturdy shoots. My reason for chitting the potatoes is that it may lead to an earlier crop - I say "may" because this point is hotly debated! Some people also say that it you remove all but about three of the shoots that appear on the seed tuber you are likely to get a stronger plant and fewer but bigger potatoes. I like to grow my potatoes in pots, and I would rather have smaller plants and more (smaller) potatoes for cropping, so I leave all the shoots intact.

I hasten to add that chitting is not strictly necessary. Potatoes will grow well enough without being chitted, but it is one of those things that experienced gardeners do in order to improve their crops a little. One of the reasons that I do it is that my Dad always used to do it, and it seemed to work well for him, so I have adopted the technique too. I know that my daughters are already doing the same thing and I'm pretty sure the tradition will continue to at least one more generation...

Photo of  granddaughter Lara in 2011

Seed potatoes have one end which has most of the "eyes" which will produce the new shoots. Many potatoes are a sort of pear shape, and in this case the end with most eyes is usually the "blunt" end.


When chitting it is normal to position the potatoes with this end uppermost. A convenient way of achieving this is to use an egg-box:


It is not vital to use egg-boxes, so if you haven't got any (or enough), just lay the tubers in something like a seed-tray, ensuring that they are not too crowded and that there is plenty of room for air to circulate. Then leave them in a cool place (approx 10C is ideal), and somewhere where they can have some light without being in direct sunlight. I keep mine in our garage, next to its side window. If you are chitting several varieties, don't forget to label them.

How long should you leave them? Well, it depends. It depends on lots of things - such as the potato variety, the temperature, the light etc. I would say that six weeks is about normal. I'll probably be planting mine in mid- to late-March. However, if you don't get round to planting all your seed potatoes at the "official" time, don't throw them away. Look at this:


Two years ago, I had six "Charlotte" tubers for which I didn't have enough space, but I kept them for several months, and the tubers themselves gradually shrivelled up whilst producing the most amazing chits. Subequently, when some of my Spring-planted potatoes had been harvested and thus released their containers for re-use, I planted the spare tubers. They went on to produce a small but very welcome crop of beautiful blemish-free potatoes:


Right, I'm off now to buy some more eggs (egg-boxes!)...

13 comments:

  1. I used to chit potatoes too when I grew them. I'm sure it makes them earlier and less likely to rot in the ground if you chit them. I hope this comment goes through. Blogger seems to be eating my comments to you recently.

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  2. I always chit my potatoes too. I must pop down to the allotment shop to see if my order has come in yet. Looks like Lara has caught the gardening bug already.

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  3. We usually chit ours for the simple reason that we obtain the seed potatoes before we can plant them out.

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  4. I was debating not to chit this year, I think I would miss the process if I didn't

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  5. Plants are starting again. I can ignore the wind outside and feel a surge of excitement.

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  6. Thank you Dad... was just about to go back through your archives for some chitting advice for this weekend when I saw you'd blogged about it today. Job for the weekend = eat lots of eggs.

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    1. Haha! You really are a "chit off the old block" then! I bet Lara will like the blue potatoes.

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  7. I just read in our Farmer's Almanac that today is a bad day in the southern states of America to plant root crops. Do you have a Farmer's Almanac there that gives you the moon phases and times to plant, etc. If so, Mark, do you consult it? I wonder what it says about chitting?

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    1. No, Egretta, I don't have a Farmers' Almanack. I'm not convinced by this planting by the Moon business. Can't help think that if it was effective it would be more well-known.

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  8. I was just wondering when it was the right time to chit them. Once it stops raining I'll go and dig out some egg boxes.

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  9. I'm taking masses of notes here Mark ;D
    That photo of Lara is so cute. I think if you have the 'littlies' involved at an early stage they are gardeners for life! It certainly worked with my daughter.
    Have a great week

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    1. I give a good discount on my Consultancy rates for regular readers, Neesie! Have you got a plan together yet? (For the veg-garden, I mean).

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  10. Good luck with the potatoes Mark, hope we get some sun for a good harvest this year!

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