Potatoes - what on earth is chitting?

[Maggiethecat]

Got some potato seeds and planning to grow in grow bags about 2ft high.

Was planning to just bung about 5 or 6 in the bag but have heard people talking about chitting - is this different from bunging them in?

Yes
Wait till they have sprouted before planting them.

Chitting means they are starting to grow. If you put in unchitted potatoes they are likely to just rot away.

You know when you get those white sprout things on potatoes when you've left them in the cupboard for too long? They're the chits. You can just leave them so the chits grow on the seed potatoes or you can just bung them in the ground and wait for them to grow. It's not essential but it gives them a tiny head start and you know which way round to plant the seed potatoes - chits facing up.

Aah, ok!

Anything to encourage the chitting? In a warm place?

Noticed that Homebase had some on sale (maybe reduced) that had sprouted so these are good to be getting then?

Sorry OP, I only know the basics. If you google it should give you some decent information esp if the website is gardeners world etc.

Yes you chit them and then plant with the best Chits facing upwards. As they grow you add more dirt to cover the growth until they are up to the top of the bag. After awhile they flower and depending if they are 1st early or 2nd or main crop , that is when you harvest.

Somewhere bright but not too warm, like a north-facing windowsill, but they're not all that fussy (as evidenced by them growing happily in Homebase).

How large are the grow bags you are using? I saw a study which compared putting 1, 2 or 3 seed potatoes in a pot to grow. There was a larger yield from 1 potato, but using 2/3 would give smaller potatoes.

If you are using those thin, grow bags, at most I'd put 1 in each end. Certainly not 5/6. I'm not an expert, but do you have a large, deep pot to use instead of a thin grow bag? You'll need to keep a thick layer of soil on top of all potatoes as they grow, otherwise any light will cause them to go green- which at high levels is poisonous!

put them on a tray in a warm light place (spare bedroom? ) until you see little "buds " start to appear. Then they are ready for planting.

Chitting gives them a head start. If you want to be really economical, cut each chitted spud in two (buds on both halves.) then you can plant twice as many rows. My Grandad used to dip the cut edge in cold wood ash.

If you don't chit them before planting they will still grow perfectly, just a bit later. (NO, they will not rot in the ground).

but they're not all that fussy (as evidenced by them growing happily in Homebase).

Are you using the standard potato grow bags? Often made out of green plastic? If so I agree that 5 seed potatoes is way too much and I wouldn't put more than 3 in per bag (I usually do 2 per bag.) Giving each seed potato more space actually results in better harvests so don't overcrowd them!

I put my seed potatoes on a window sill on an empty egg tray to hold them steady. Agree 2-3 per bag. You are mean to put them in a few inches of compost at first then add to it as the plants grow. I roll down the sides of the bags and unroll as I add to the compost. This is called 'earthing up'. I think it increases the yield and stops the new spuds growing on the surface, becoming green and inedible.

If you have more seed potatoes than grow bags, I've resorted to using the plastic bags the compost comes in, just remember to cut drainage holes. They word fine. Add plenty of plant food and feed regularly while they're growing.

Sorry, *work fine.