Get Chitting!

Now’s the time to buy up your seed potatoes and start them into growth. You are best buying your seed potatoes from a garden centre or via mail order than from a supermarket which have been known to carry viruses. All types will benefit from “chitting”. This is a technique, which encourages the seed potatoes to sprout indoors before planting. Place them on a tray or in old egg boxes with the side with the most eyes pointing upwards in a light, cool and frost free place. After a while you’ll notice new shoots appearing which will then start to grow. When these are 2-3cm in length they are ready for planting. The advantage of chitting is that it gives the potato plants a head start and as a result generally produce much bigger crops than if they were sown straight away.