Get your spuds off to a super start with our guide to successful chitting
The question of whether to chit or not to chit potatoes before planting out is of great debate in the gardening world. Chitting, for those who are unaware, involves leaving seed potatoes in a light, frost-free place, such as on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, for up to six weeks, in order to grow 1-2cm long shoots. This process is believed to result in a sooner and larger harvest. Of course, there are growers who believe that chitting doesn’t make much difference to the overall result so isn’t worth doing. Surprisingly (or perhaps, unsurprisingly), there have been little studies conducted on the topic, which means that there is no definite answer, so the decision to chit or not to chit is down to the individual grower. Whatever side you’re on, it can’t be denied that getting out the egg cartons, purchasing seed potatoes and leaving them alone for a few weeks to grow shoots is a cherished gardening tradition. Usually performed in January or February, chitting is also one of the first tasks on the gardening calendar, so it gets the growing season started with a bang.
1 You will first need to decide when to chit your spuds. Chitting takes two-six weeks with first earlies planted out in March and second earlies planted early to mid-April. It’s therefore a good idea to count back six weeks from your predicted planting date and begin from there.
2 Purchase your seed potatoes from a reputable supplier, online or in store. There are hundreds of potato varieties to choose from, which can make the selection difficult. ‘Arran Pilot’, ‘Swift’ and ‘Charlotte’ are good all-round first-early and second-early potato varieties, respectively.
3 Save some egg cartons to put your seed potatoes in. Egg cartons are great for chitting as the tubers sit comfortably in the holes. However, any container with dividers, or a slat-bottomed tray that’s been divided up with newspaper, will do the trick.
4 Place the seed potatoes into the egg cartons or containers, ‘eye side’ up, in an upright stance. The eyes look like little knobbly bits on the potato’s surface and is where the shoots will sprout from. Do not worry if not all the eyes are facing upwards.
5 Your seed potatoes will need to be stored in a cool, light place, such as a porch windowsill, maintaining a temperature of 7-12°C . Ensure the spot has good light levels in order to ensure that the shoots are s
