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Durgan · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:31 am Post subject: Chitting Potatoes

Chitting http://iuyum.notlong.com/ General Overview.

Seed tubers are best 'chitted' or sprouted. Look closely at the potatoes and you should see more eyes at the crown - often there are three or four, sometimes five, in a cluster. On some tubers, particularly the roundish shaped types, they may be placed off centre. If these are allowed to grow they will produce mainly small tubers. Using a potato peeler or a small pointed knife remove all the eyes in the cluster by scooping approximately one eighth of an inch (3mm) deep, which should eliminate any regrowth. Without the crown cluster eyes, the tuber's food reserves will be directed to shoulder and side eyes. Reject all tubers showing the slightest sign of disease. Cutting out the diseased part, such as dry rot or gangrene, is no answer because if it is planted the diseased tubers will infect the soil.

Set treated tubers, crown up, on egg trays, thus allowing space for the sprouts to develop. They do not require high temperatures, but should be kept in full light and free from extreme cold or frost.This will encourage sturdy sprouts. Sprouts will form within a few weeks, dark blue or green, or deep pink or red, depending upon the cultivar, by planting time. By chitting we may select the eyes and encourage good sturdy sprouts before planting to produce earlier, improved crops.

http://heixa.notlong.com/ Chitting Picture, showing sprouts.

Although unsprouted tubers can be planted, the chitted ones benefit from their flying start, and vigorous sprouts. Early cultivars will crop sooner and more heavily if chitted.

Chitting later season cultivars results in earlier foliage before blight or drought strike and they mature earlier and can be gathered before slugs damage the tubers.

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Durgan. Brantford, ON, Canada Zone 5B
http://aeragh.notlong.com

Local lass · St. Mary's Old Girl Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2231

mine are coming along quite nicely
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Durgan · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

Yikes! I can't find any seed potatoes amongst the local suppliers. They don't stock until about the first week of April.

The last two years I have been planting about the 15 of April, probably due to Global Warming. with excellent results.

I notice you didn't or don't remove the crowded clusters of sprouts. If and when I get the seed potatoes, I will remove the crowded clusters, and allow four shoots to grow.
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Durgan. Brantford, ON, Canada Zone 5B
http://aeragh.notlong.com

Local lass · St. Mary's Old Girl Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2231

durgun its my first year of chitting potatoes im not sure if what im doing is right or not Laughing

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Durgan · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

http://miezoh.notlong.com 16 March 2008 My Chitting method.

Seed potatoes were purchased 16 March 2008. Some were already sprouted, so it was easy to remove the clustered sprouts. This is my method. I use a potato peeler and remove a plug consisting of the clustered sprouts. This is probaly only feasible in a home garden, due to the labour and expense involved.

The types of potatoes are Kennebec, Superior, Chiefton.
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Durgan. Brantford, ON, Canada Zone 5B
http://aeragh.notlong.com