Chitting Potatoes

[Don Foley]

I went to the Shed this afternoon to retrieve my seed potatoes with a view to starting the chitting process. All of the tubers had already sprouted with most having sprouts around 4 – 6″.
Can I remove these and restart the process? I’m sure I read somewhere that it is perfectly ok to do this but could someone offer some reassurance.

Don.

[Don Foley]

I meant to add in my previous post that I was going to chit under Grow Lamps.
Is this possible to do? If so how far above the tubers should I place the Lamps.

Don.

[charles]

I don’t think you need grow lights for chitting Don, I would save them for leafy veg. And I would remove those long sprouts, they do not contain a lot of goodness and planting will be far easier. I guess they are a first early variety to have such long sprouts? My second earlies have not sprouted much yet, in the shed. Perhaps you are milder too in southern Ireland.

[Don Foley]

Hi Charles,

The weather has been reasonable, -2 to -3C at night at worst and 6C during the day.
These are actually maincrop varities I got from the Irish Seed Savers Association that I am trialing this year; Cara, Tibet and Arran Victory. I wouldn’t normally use the Growlights for this purpose but light levels in the house are not great at this time of year and also I have one Growlight which will not be required for anything else for the next 5-6 weeks so I thought I would use it for this. They will be grown in Potato/Tomato Planter Bags that I will set out on an area I am recovering /reclaiming for use next year which will be covered with Manure and then covered over with plastic for the next 12 months or so.
I’m planning on planting circa 1st. April weather permitting.

Don.

BTW, did you get any contact details for the gig tomorrow night? Its not at a great time of the day, Dublin city evening rush hour, but I would still try and go if I can.

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