Chitting potatoes can give you greater yields. Watch to see how to do it.
For any horticultural enthusiast or home gardener, knowing how to chit potatoes is an invaluable skill. Chitting potatoes involves allowing potato tubers to develop short stems and sprouts before planting. This can help the yield of a potato crop, making them larger and healthier. Although chitting potatoes takes a bit more time, the benefits of doing so are worth it.
In this article, we will explain what chitting potatoes is, why you should have a go at it yourself and how best to do it. We’ll cover topics such as the advantages of chitting versus non-chitted tubers; what happens if you don’t chit your tubers; how long you should allow for the process; where in your home the best place is to complete this task; and finally, just how deep should you actually plant those newly chitted little spuds? So join us as we discover all there is to know about successfully getting those seed potatoes sprouting in no time.
What Is The Advantage Of Chitting Potatoes?
Chitting potatoes is a great way to get your crop off to a head start and take advantage of the cooler weather during spring and early summer. By chitting, you are encouraging the potatoes to sprout before planting them in the ground. This process can greatly increase the size of your harvest as well as reduce the days it takes for them to mature. Studies have shown that chitting is an effective way to increase yields and speed up growth.
The cooler temperatures that occur in northern states and provinces are ideal for growing potatoes, so by chitting them you can take full advantage of this climate. Chitting also helps ensure that your potatoes will be ready for planting when the weather is right, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of gardening such as weeding or fertilizing. Additionally, it gives you an opportunity to inspect each potato before planting; this allows you to discard any that may have been damaged or diseased during storage or transport.
Chitting potatoes is also a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. It’s relatively simple: just place your seed potatoes in egg cartons with their eyes facing upward and store them in a cool, dark place until they begin sprouting (about 2-4 weeks). Once they’ve sprouted enough roots (known as “chits”), they are ready for planting. You can even use egg cartons or other containers with drainage holes if desired; this will help prevent rot from occurring due to over-watering.
Finally, chitting helps protect your plants from pests such as wireworms which may burrow into tubers if left un-chitted prior to planting. It also reduces competition between plants since each tuber has already begun its own growth cycle before being planted in the ground; this means less crowding between plants which leads to healthier growth overall.
What Happens If I Don’t Chit Potatoes?
If you don’t chit potatoes, you won’t be able to take advantage of the cooler days of spring and early summer. This means that your potatoes will take longer to grow and mature, resulting in a delayed harvest. The data indicates that there is a substantial difference after 68 days, suggesting that for a home garden, not chitting your potatoes could delay the harvest by 2-3 weeks.
Chitting also helps to ensure that the potatoes are planted in the right direction. When planting without chitting, it’s important to make sure each potato is placed with its rounded, blunt end upwards. This ensures that when they sprout they will have access to enough light for healthy growth and development. Without this access to light the shoots will be white instead of sturdy green sprouts which can indicate poor growth or even death of the plant due to lack of nutrients or water absorption.
It’s also important not to plant any potatoes with a greenish tint as this indicates solanine which is a neurotoxin that can cause headaches and nausea if ingested in large amounts or can even be fatal in extreme cases. In order for these issues not arise it’s best practice to wait until soil has warmed up at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit before planting any potatoes – whether you choose to chit them or not.
Overall, while chitting may help speed up your potato crop’s growth cycle and ensure healthy development, it isn’t absolutely necessary if you follow certain precautions such as waiting until soil has warmed up sufficiently before planting and discarding any potatoes with a greenish tint on them as these may contain solanine which can be dangerous if consumed in large amounts.
How Long Should You Chit Potatoes For?
Chitting potatoes is an important step in the process of growing potatoes, and it’s important to get it right. The process of chitting involves placing seed potatoes in a light, frost-free spot to encourage sprouting. This should be done about four weeks before you plan on planting them outdoors. This gives the potatoes time to grow shoots that are around 2cm long, which usually takes about 4-6 weeks.
It’s best to start chitting potato seeds as early as possible so that they have plenty of time to grow before planting them outdoors. If you’re able to start chitting earlier than four weeks before planting, then you can plant them undercover and give them even more time to grow. Aiming for early or mid-spring is ideal since the soil needs to be at least 6°C for optimal growth. The longer your potatoes have been given time to grow, the higher yields you will get when harvesting them later on.
When chitting your potato seeds, make sure they are placed in a light and frost-free spot and check on them regularly over the course of 4-6 weeks until they have grown shoots that are 2cm long. Once this has happened, your seed potatoes will be ready for planting outdoors in the ground or undercover depending on your preference and climate conditions.
It’s important not to rush this process as it can affect how well your crop grows later on down the line. Make sure you give yourself enough time by starting early so that your potatoes have plenty of time for optimal growth before being planted out into their final destination.
Where Is The Best Place To Chit Potatoes?
The best place to chit potatoes is in a cool, sunny windowsill or another suitable spot. This will provide the ideal ambient temperature of around 10°C for the potatoes to begin sprouting. When chitting, it is important to place each seed potato with the rounded, blunt end upwards and use egg boxes, cardboard trays or other suitable containers. It is also important to wait until the soil has warmed up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit before planting them outdoors.
Chitting your potatoes can give your crop a head start and help you take full advantage of cooler days during spring and early summer. Studies conducted in Canada in the 1980s reported an average increase in yield of 30%, while more recent studies conducted in 2016 found similar results. Chitting can also help prevent diseases such as potato blight from affecting your crop by ensuring that only healthy plants are planted out into the garden or allotment beds.
When chitting potatoes, it is important to ensure that they have enough light but not too much direct sunlight as this can cause them to dry out too quickly and become damaged. The best time for chitting potatoes is 4-6 weeks before you plan on planting them outdoors so that they have enough time to sprout before being transplanted into their final location. Additionally, it’s important not to overcrowd your seed potatoes when placing them into containers as this can result in stunted growth or disease due to lack of air circulation between plants.
It’s also important not to leave your seed potatoes for too long when chitting as this can result in weak stems which are prone to breaking when being transplanted outdoors. Once you have finished chitting your seed potatoes, be sure to keep an eye on them and check regularly for signs of disease such as mould or rot which may require immediate action if spotted early enough.
How Deep Do You Plant Chitted Potatoes?
When planting chitted potatoes, it is important to ensure that they are planted at the right depth. The ideal depth for planting chitted potatoes is between 1 and 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm). This will provide the potato with enough soil coverage to help it grow and develop properly. It is also important to space the potatoes 12 to 18 inches (30.5 to 45 cm) apart in order for them to have enough room for growth and development.
Before planting, it is essential that the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). If the soil temperature is too cold, then the potatoes may not grow properly or may rot before they can even begin growing. Once you have determined that your soil has reached this temperature, you can begin preparing your chitted potatoes for planting by cutting them into pieces with one or two eyes in each piece.
Once your pieces are ready, you can start placing them in the ground with their eye side up and cover them with 4 inches (10 cm.) of soil before watering them thoroughly. After this step has been completed, place your planted potatoes in a light frost-free area so they can start growing without any interruptions from cold temperatures or other weather conditions. Finally, earthing up your potatoes will help maximize your crop yield since it helps protect against pests and diseases while also providing insulation against extreme temperatures during winter months.