Growing Charlotte Potatoes pls help

Tomtom07

Just got my potatoe seeds, and have just read that you don't have to chit them, what are the benefits of chitting potatoes? is it to late to chit them now? or should I just plant them?

Any help would be great thanks

lynzpower

Chitting is what you need to get the growth going. I think its a given that you have to do it. I have had charlottes chitting since mid feb, I think within the next 2 weeks they should be ready for planting- they are slow to chit compared to the british guard I also had that went in containers weeks ago. My main crop chitting since 1st weekend in March, absolutely nowhere near ready to be planted as yet.

the british guard were well chitted before they went in and they are growing up like mad im having to earth up every couple of days now, and they should be ready ( 1st crop) in May.

Plenty of time yet IMO.

Tomtom07

lynzpower wrote: »

Chitting is what you need to get the growth going. I think its a given that you have to do it.

Thats what I thought, but the info it came with said that they can be planted without chitting, eggboxes out time to chit I think.

Thankyou Lynzpower for the quick answer :beer:

misskool

you don't have to chit, if you plant them they will still grow. chitting gives them a head start.

Farway

misskool wrote: »

you don't have to chit, if you plant them they will still grow. chitting gives them a head start.

Agreed, there is no need to chit, do farmers chit 1000 acres of seed spuds? Of course not

The advantage of chitting is that it enables prize growers to rub out a few shots to improve yield with large spuds

If growing to eat then just plant the blooming things, may be a bit too early just yet, so to contradict myself, then chitting would give a bit of an advantage by starting into growth earlier

Your choice, but do not lose sleep over it

ERICS_MUM

Do a bit of an experiment - chit some and not others then compare results when you harvest your spuds. Post your results.


Linda xx

Tomtom07

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

Do a bit of an experiment - chit some and not others then compare results when you harvest your spuds. Post your results.


Linda xx

Great now this thread is changing to 'To chit or not to chit?' I'm going to do chitted spuds & non chitted, lets see what happens will update as and when.

shandypants5

I have been chitting my spuds for weeeks now and they only have little tiny shoots showing.

If they havent grown by easter they are getting planted regardless.

lynzpower

Ooops sorry I meant that I read trhat chitting is best for potato growing in containers.

Is this true? If not then Ill start the rest of the charlottes and the maincrop this weekend, I could really do with the window ledge space

RHYSDAD

My charlottes were/are chitting and planted half on Wednesday. Doing fine as far as I can tell....