Potato Chitting (help needed)

RuthMarianna

I have some seed potatoes from Thompson & Morgan and some small potatoes from the supermarket. I have them in egg boxes to chit and although I have tried various places in the house none show any sign of chitting after nearly 3 weeks.

I have them in the light and my husband thinks they should be in the dark as potatoes that we want to eat which are in a cupboard keep chitting.

I would appreciate any advice on this please.

misskool

Light and warm. I stick mine on top of the fridge in egg boxes. They don't need to chit, they will still grow. Chitting gives the early potatoes a head start

Gopppers

I'm no expert, but leave them in your egg boxes on a bright windowsill and give it a little patience...

but i'm sure someone of more potato chitting experience will give you better advice!!

Good luck with your spuds!!

Mids_Costcutter

Definitely in the light in my experience. Some seed potatoes do need many weeks to chit.

RuthMarianna

Thanks everyone.

skelly01

I always sit mine in egg boxes and put them in a dark place, preferably the airing cupboard, where it is nice and warm. I find they always shoot quicker than being in the light. Some supermarkets now treat their potatoes in order that they dont sprout and grow.

pookienoodle

potatoes in the dark produce long white shoots which are no good for planting .
chitting produces short sturdy shoots(green or sometimes purple.)
chit in the light,cool is o.k doesn't need to be too warm.
what spuds are they?
unless they are earlies you don't really need to chit as maincrops spend longer in the ground.

Optimisticpair

You'll find poatatoes kept in a warm dark place sprout long white shoots but we want short purply-green chits for early spuds (new potatoes) so a warm light place is best. Maincrop don't have to be chitted but if you do supermarket spuds it is as well, I think, to chit them. Eye end upwards stood upright in an egg box on a windowsill.

skelly01

It would seem from the posts that dark and light are both fine. I know as I posted earlier I favour the dark method and have always had excellent crops, and from what other posters are saying they favour the light method and would seem to have similar results.

Orange_King

Seems to make no difference. Today I found some of mine from last year that were stored in a cool dry spot in the garage and they have all shot. Might give them a go!

Dorastar

Mine seem to chit away all the time just sat in the veg rack in the corner of the kitchen! Have planted some out now cos they were well past eating!