Potato 'chitting' or sprouting extends the growing period, and is beneficial to obtaining early, heavy yielding crops, particularly in northern latitudes where the growing season is shorter.
Select healthy tubers obtained from a certified supplier.
Avoid home-saved tubers these may be contaminated with virus.
Week 5; (or on delivery of tubers) prepare tubers for chitting. |
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Ideally select tubers the size of hen / duck eggs, and set them side-by-side and ‘rose-end’ uppermost, in shallow trays, or old egg boxes.
Note; The ‘rose end’ produces most shoots, or 'eyes', and on occasions is difficult to recognize.
If this is the case, look for the point where the tuber was once attached to the root system, this will indicate that the ‘rose end’ is at the other end of the tuber.
Place the tray in a dry well lit frost free environment, but out of direct sun.
Avoid too much shade and high temperatures, these encourage leggy shoots.
Tubers should have chitted sufficiently to be planted out approx six weeks later.
Aim for chits around 13-25mm (½"-1") long