Many nurseryman chit , or sprout , their white potato beforeplanting . Chitting can assist you get a jump on the season ; especially important if you have problems with Colorado potato beetles . It also ensures that every potato you works has already manifest that it can get . Chitting is n’t difficult or time - consuming – the murphy do most of the work .
When to Chit
Chitting is crucial in several situations . If you are n’t sure of the viability of your potatoes , or if you ’re trying to maturate them from store - corrupt tuber , chitting will shew they can originate . When you want to get them in the ground as early on as possible or you ’re trying to prison term planting , chitting can give you a several - hebdomad head start on the season . The voracious pest known as the Colorado Irish potato beetle is less of a job with early plantings .
When You Can Skip Chitting
If you ’re endeavor to push potatoes for an early craw , you may skim chitting . These do well plant in black plastic bags fill with constitutive compost . Bury the potatoes in the ground and pee . The heat and moisture will force sprouting . If potato mallet are n’t a trouble and/or you have plenty of time and room , you may simply plant potatoes without chitting them .
Getting Started
temperature and lightness are key to proper chitting . You want a cool but not cold environment , with temperature around 50 ° atomic number 9 ( 10 ° C ) . Do n’t allow your chitting potatoes to be scupper to frost , however – it can down the shoot . You need brilliant lighting but not direct sunlight . Place the spud on end , with the destruction that has the most eyes pointing upward .
Varieties that Benefit
In some pillowcase , chitting is good to shorten the growing period or to stave off disease . The following varieties may do good from chitting :
Problems With Chitting
Sometimes , white potato do n’t seem to want to chit . One of the main reason – particularly if you are get your own home - raised white potato vine is lack of quiescence . Potatoes must be stored over winter in a cold-blooded environment to bump dormancy . commercial-grade seed potatoes may have been store too long and become shrivel . grocery store stock potatoes that are not constitutive may have been care for with sprout inhibitors .
Planting Chitted Potatoes
Potatoes need easy , fertile soil , so prepare your planting area well forwards of time . Many gardeners choose to plant in trenches as it makeshillingeasier . Dig a Tinca tinca about 12 inchesdeep . fret off all but the top three or four sprouts before you plant ; it mean in effect growth . Place the chitted white potato vine with the sprouted ends up and continue with three or four inches of soil .
