Chitting potatoes must be done properly, according to John Sarup of the SAC.
Chitting is the controlled production of sprouts on seed potatoes before planting. But the controlled production of sprouts is the key. The length & strength of the sprout must be controlled to give a short (1.5-2.5cm (0.5-1in) long), stubby, green chit.
The 3 factors involved in chitting are:
- temperature – 4 degrees Celsius is ideal, but the temperature should not go above 10 degrees, neither should it reach freezing.
- ventilation - plenty of fresh air
- light - plenty of light – but not bright sunlight – a north facing window is best
Early and late main crop potatoes could especially benefit from the chitting , but it must be done properly.
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It is not necessary to chit potato seed.
chitting-in-egg-box
But chitting does bring an earlier crop because chitting starts the growing process.
- This is particularly important for new or early potatoes, as the growing season is short & every day counts!
- Many people do not chit maincrop poatoes because the potatoes seem to catch up over the long season.
Chitting does act as an insurance. If the planting season is delayed because of bad weather, or family duties, the potatoes have actually started growing so will not be quite so delayed.
Chitting is not necessary, but it does start the shoots growing on the seed potatoes, so chitting is popular with early potato growers.
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This is how a potato seed looks when it is ready for planting.
seed-potato-with-chits
The potato chit should be:
dark green
dark-green-chits
strong and stumpy
strong stumpy-chits
These Maris Bard potatoes have an ideal chit on the seed and are ready to plant.
potato-seed-ready-to-plant
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