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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 16:02:19 GMT
Someone who's been growing potatoes longer than me will know for sure but I do remember a discussion about whether it was necessary last year and I'm sure some folk did and some folk didn't. I throw the little potatoes back onto the compost heap and they grow the next year without anything being done to them. I have potatoes pop up all over the heap!
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 16:04:33 GMT
Found this advice...
Chitting is the process of placing seed potatoes in a cool, light place to encourage strong sturdy shoots to grow before they are planted in the ground. If you want to grow very early varieties, such as Maris Bard, and to harvest them as early as possible, then chitting is essential. All potatoes will start to sprout at this time of year and if they are not offered the right cool, light conditions they may develop elongated and white shoots (or chits). You should leave all the sprouts on seed potatoes. The aim is to have a small number of sturdy shoots, not masses of elongated sprouts, which dissipate the energy of the seed potato. If you rub sprouts off, then you'll get a smaller crop but larger potatoes. Keep seed potatoes in a cool but light situation, rose end upward. This should encourage a small number of eyes to sprout. Commercial growers never bother to chit their potatoes and it seems to make little difference to the yield. However, they are able to keep their seed potatoes dormant by providing very exact storage conditions and this is very hard for the home gardener to do. For this reason, most amateur gardeners do chit their seed potatoes but any you have bought late can go straight in the ground, unchitted, at around Easter time.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 16:17:01 GMT
Think that I will just bung em in and keep my fingers crossed ;D
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 16:30:25 GMT
It's almost worth a little experiment - chit some and leave some and see if there is any difference.
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 9, 2010 16:35:40 GMT
Jasmine is right - it is up to you whether you chit or not Missy. We did an experiment a couple of years ago on GWD and it worked out that the non-chitted potatoes were only a couple of weeks behind the chitted and then caught up totally.
I have done both and last year didn't bother - I just bunged them all into tubs.
I also did the spuds the correct way and kept adding more and more soil ...mmmmh well..last year I bunged the spuds in, added a bit of fertilizer and filled the tubs right to the top. They were fantastic and I had less work....and as far as I could see there was no difference...I do stand to be corrected though!!!
RF
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Post by Ron on Jan 9, 2010 18:11:39 GMT
I asked exactly this question last year of a very experienced gardening friend on his allotment. Chitting is only valid for early/second early potatoes really, unless you're late planting. It just gives them a start. If you plant maincrop varieties as and when recommended, there's no need.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 18:19:00 GMT
Jasmine is right - it is up to you whether you chit or not Missy. We did an experiment a couple of years ago on GWD and it worked out that the non-chitted potatoes were only a couple of weeks behind the chitted and then caught up totally. I have done both and last year didn't bother - I just bunged them all into tubs. I also did the spuds the correct way and kept adding more and more soil ...mmmmh well..last year I bunged the spuds in, added a bit of fertilizer and filled the tubs right to the top. They were fantastic and I had less work....and as far as I could see there was no difference...I do stand to be corrected though!!! RF Fertilizer? What sort?
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 18:27:18 GMT
I use chicken manure. Jessie used to snuffle it out and eat it
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 18:28:35 GMT
does it smell?
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 9, 2010 18:28:52 GMT
I used guano...much the same when you think about it...don't use too much or you will get more tops than tails!!
RF
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 18:32:44 GMT
Will have to google that to see what it is...
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 9, 2010 18:34:38 GMT
Guano - well not to put too finer point on it...bird shit - and yes it does pong!!
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 9, 2010 19:09:44 GMT
Chicken pellet manure is what I'll use and it pongs too MRH but I use it for all the garden.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 19:13:28 GMT
I need to put my spuds in their pots underneath my windows so I was kind of hoping that it didnt stink or else I wouldn't be able to open the windows Anyone know of any fertilizer that doesn't pong?
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 9, 2010 19:15:27 GMT
It only pongs for a couple of days when you add it to the soil MRH, not all season long.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 19:20:42 GMT
thats alright then...does it attract flies?
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 19:29:47 GMT
Not at all, and if you pile soil over it only a border collie who thinks it is on starvation rations will be able to smell it.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 9, 2010 19:30:43 GMT
;D
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 19:41:43 GMT
Do you only do that once or do you have to keep topping it up with fertilizer?
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 20:15:06 GMT
I didn't use chicken manure again MRH but I used a liquid fertiliser through the summer....and lots of water.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2010 20:37:22 GMT
what sort Jas?
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2010 21:07:59 GMT
Tomato feed. This might not be what everyone would recommend though.
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 9, 2010 21:21:44 GMT
I only use growmore,just one good feed when planting,i dont feed anymore
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 10, 2010 5:24:29 GMT
I mix some guano in with the soil as I am filling the tubs and give it a good watering - I don't feed anymore as there is also fertilizer in the compost.
RF
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Post by jean on Jan 10, 2010 10:19:16 GMT
I only use growmore,just one good feed when planting,i dont feed anymore Same here FB one feed and thats it, we have moved away from growmore to an organic pelleted fertilzer and I use bonemeal too. I tried planting in trenches and ridges last year, both worked very well. I found that the spuds in ridges were easier to dig out but lost a few that found their way to the top and went green before I could harvest them.
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Post by Mowhay on Jan 10, 2010 19:07:07 GMT
For the past few years I have grown "Charlotte" and the family have really enjoyed them and I now have them chitting in the spare bedroom in upturned propagator lids. I have used chicken pellets and have done the "earthing up" routine on the six Marshall's potato sacks I have but reading RF's comments this year I will fill three of the sacks when planting and earth up the other three and compare the results, cannot wait to be growing stuff again.
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Post by Ron on Jan 14, 2010 10:08:23 GMT
Jasmine's tomato feed ought to work well as potatoes and tomatoes (and aubergines) are closely related.
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Post by Tig on Jan 14, 2010 14:35:11 GMT
I noticed Homebase had all their seed potatoes on the shelves this week. As I am tight I don't usually buy seed tatties, I let some of my supermarket bought ones mature. Spruance warned previously that these may carry disease, but so far I seem to have done OK with them.
My space is limited and I only go for new spuds rather than maincrop.
I grew one lot in a container last year and had a very good harvest from just 3 seed potatoes.
x Tig
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Post by Ron on Jan 14, 2010 19:18:44 GMT
You can get a very good deal from www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/ if you are considering growing potatoes in a container. They offer 4 'potato bags' and 5 seed potatoes of 4 different varieties, 1 for each bag, for £13.95 plus postage. There are 4 versions to choose from.
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Post by Spruance on Jan 15, 2010 16:43:34 GMT
I grow first early 'Ulster Sceptre' every year but thanks to the ever diminishing bag size (2.5kg now) I have opted this year for a 2.5kg bag of second early 'Nicola' as well. Has anyone grown these? I have had them from the supermarket but shop bought potatoes are never quite the same as home grown are they?
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