5 February 2006
Chitting controversy
Good germination news - Purple Calabash are poking their heads through…
I have put my potatoes in trays for chitting. This year the selection I bought includes Valor, Robinta, Colleen, Orla and Milva, all of which we grew last year and had very good results with. Mind you, I also ordered extra and we ended up with a huge harvest. I am already thinking that next year I might branch out a little and try some different varieties. I like Multiveg’s idea of going to a potato day and buying a small amount of numerous types.
The advice from OGC that accompanies the seed pots recommends starting them off in trays in the dark until shoots appear, then moving them into the light. Certainly, the remaining Cara potaotes that I was storing in a sack in a cool and very dark cupboard are testament to the ability of potatoes to sprout very strongly in these conditions. Annoying, though - I had hoped to use them in a dauphinoise yesterday evening.
Starting to chit in the dark is not, however, a universally held view. Monty recommends chitting in the light, and Mr Flowerdew is likewise a lots of light chitter. Joy Larkcom says in the light, but away from direct sunlight. Uncle Alan puts them on a bright windowsill.
So, what to do?
Well, before I ever started to read up on the subject I always put my seed potatoes somewhere light. It seems to have worked OK so far and if it aint broke…
Filed under: Hard labour, Sowings, Today's Bible — Clare @ 3:44 pm
I say do it in the light (no rudeness intended) but try an experiment with a few in the dark to see what happens. The spirit of Hienz Wolff lives on at WB Paddocks!
(05.02.06 @ 4:54 pm)
I assumed that chitting in the light was the only way to do it. So like you guys I am chitting in the light.
(06.02.06 @ 8:57 pm)
WB: Experimentation will start next year. I’ve already started ‘em all off in the light now.
WiZeR: Yay! If we all think alike then we must be doing it right!
(06.02.06 @ 11:14 pm)
Thank you! What with my usual non knowledge about growing veg, I didn’t actually know this and was just going to chit my pots in the darkness of my shed. But now hundreds of potatoes will be on display in the worktop next to the window and annoying my flatmate. yay!
(08.02.06 @ 10:52 am)
If you chit in the dark how do you see to put them in the trays…………………?
(08.02.06 @ 2:45 pm)
Mildew: Thanks for the vote of confidence. Just don’t blame me if you don’t get the results you want!
Jooles:
You have to feel for the knobbles…
(08.02.06 @ 11:43 pm)
I start chiiting in the dark letting them sprout a little and then bringing into the light for a week or so before planting and the shoot darken up
Obviously the ‘darkening’ is Chlorophyll, which is producded as chemical reaction to the light. Chlorophyll desn’t make teh shoots stronger, the ‘reaching’ in the dark makes them weaker, but on a good stock of seed.
Tempratutre is more important as growth is a consequence of heat as a catalyst.
(16.03.08 @ 12:01 pm)