chitting protocol for this years spuds!

sharonl

Hi all,

I've just bought all our seed potatoes for this year. Just wondering do you chit earlies, second earlies and maincrops at different times or do I just whack em all on the windowsill at the same time and just plant at different times. Was going to start chitting the first earlies this week and just need to know do I need to chit the second earlies and maincrops now aswell?

paul5000 · Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject:

Monty Don recons early's do benefit from chitin but second and main do not. It Can even have a poor affect on yield for the seconds and main crops. That is his opinion.

Gardening Daddy · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 19

To chit or not to chit....
I bought Orla's last week which I originally thought were first earlies but have since been informed (or misinformed) by the shop I bought them in that they are second earlies, I was planning on chitting them either way but now I'm not so sure. Can we get a general consensus on this matter?

James Kilkelly · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject:

Chit four to six weeks before you intend to sow.
Also known as sprouting, chitting forces the seed potatoes to produce buds before they are even planted, an encouragement that results in earlier cropping. Earlier cropping has the added bonus of getting your first and second earlies in and out of the soil before potato blight becomes a problem.

More info in my article here.... How to chit seed potatoes for earlier and heavier cropping.

If you are looking for seed potatoes you may be able to source some here....Seed potatoes

sharonl · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:32 am Post subject:

I thought Orla were first early aswell Confused

they are listed as first earlies in all my books and anywhere I've looked on the internet. I'm growing orla and pentland javelin as first earlies, kestrel as seconds and maris piper as maincrop. I'll get chitting with the first and second earlies so, is it any harm to chit the maincrops?

paul5000 · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:51 am Post subject:

Sharon have you growing Maris piper before??

cooler · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:23 am Post subject:

MacFistycuffs · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

Orla is a first early but can also be used as a maincrop.

sharonl · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject:

I'll get chitting so!! Very Happy

No I haven't grown maris piper before, I believe they have relatively ok blight resistance but very poor resistance to scab, and make great chips!! Shocked

We didn't intend on growing any spuds last year on the allotment but were given some aran pilots and roosters to try by an allotment neighbour so chucked em in and they were absolutely gorgeous, so we said we'll do it properly this year and plant out some earlies, seconds and maincrops. Spent our first year on the plot pretty much learning and trying everything to see what worked and what didn't, so practice year over its down to business this year. thanks all.

sainttoff · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject:

Hi All;

I tried the potatoe bags last year as a method but didnt have much sucess.

Thinking of just second earlies and main crop this year for the bags, any one recommend when to plant them in the bags and when best to harvest?

Last year i got alot small ones from second earlies even though i left them there till august/september and the main crop were way too small of size to use.

Thanks

davidh · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject:

paul5000 · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject:

How is the valor flavor.

davidh · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

monkeynic · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject:

Im attempting chitting for the first time, when i too my second earlys out of the bag a lot of them already have buds but my first earlys dont, should I plants second before first? Or just give my earlys more time as only started on thursday.

Redfox · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject:

When are you guys putting out your first earlies? I met an allotment gardener with 20+ years experience yesterday and he told me he put his out last weekend. He said to just cover the soil with black plastic and as soon as the plants start to appear swap it out for garden fleece. Anybody any comments on this?