Chitting Potatoes

Now is the time of year out thoughts turn towards potatoes - that marvellous crop so beloved of our culture.  There are so many varieties, so many delicious ways of eating and they are easy to grow.  I know they can take up a lot of space but there's room in most gardens for a row of delicious gourmet new potatoes and you can always create a bed somewhere else for others. I know some people think that potatoes are cheap and plentiful but its not always easy to get a well flavoured disease free spud when you want one. It's sometimes a lottery opening a sack purchased from the supermarket and hoping you get a good one.  As usual - if you grow them yourself then you will know what has gone in them and on them.  

If you only have room for some "earlies" and want them for Christmas then you will need to get them into the ground by the beginning of September. Which means preparing the seed now.  For early crops I love Cliffs Kidney and Jersey Benne but there are many to choose from. I've got some weird looking knobbly Pink Firs on the go. Make sure you label them though so you know what you are planting!

Chitting. 

The word "chitting" comes from the early English word that means children - the words "kitten" and "cub" have the same root.  You may have had some potatoes at the bottom of the pantry put out long shoots - it is just showing that they are getting ready to produce new plants.  It really means to sprout, and its about preparing your seed potatoes for planting. 

Its a good idea to purchase your seed from the store as they are guaranteed disease free but plenty of people choose clean disease free seed from their own crop.  This is how old varieties have survived over the years.  Put the seed potatoes into egg trays with the eyes looking up  and then pop in a warm dry light place (but not direct sunlight)for them to start sprouting. I also use wooden trays lined with straw for bigger crops.  If lots of 'eyes' have sprouted rub some off leaving 2-3 strong ones.  Get them in the ground before they get too lanky though. 

In the meantime you can also get a head start on the season by warming up the ground where your plants are going to go.  Lay down black polythene, frost cloth, a cloche, an old window - anything that is going to warm up the soil.   If you have a plastic or glasshouse then you can get them in the ground sooner as well - but I will be waiting for a few weeks yet.