Chitting And Planting Potatoes.
Its a good idea to chit your potatoes before planting chitting simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting.This helps get them off to a good start.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.However if you have missed chitting your potatoes at these times is still worth chitting them before you plant because they will get a quicker start once in the ground.
To chit your seed potatoes stand them with the blunt end uppermost old egg boxes, with plenty of natural light in a heated but coolish room.
The potatoes are ready to be planted out when the shoots are 1.0-2.0 cm long.
When planting potatoes each seed potato has a more rounded,blunt end that has the ‘eyes’ as against a more pointed end.You need to plant them so the more rounded blunt is facing up or on top,if you are not sure then simply plant them on there side.
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.
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