CHIT YOUR POTATOES

IF YOU plan to grow early potatoes, get them off to a speedier start by sprouting or chitting the tubers.

To initiate sprouting, lay the seed potatoes out on a tray or in a shallow box. Large fibre egg trays are handy for this. Set each potato upright, arranging for the ends with the most ‘eyes’ or buds to be uppermost. Place the trays in a warm, well-lit spot. Keep them there until the tubers have produced stout shoots. When these are about 3cm, the tubers are ready for planting. In warm regions, early tubers can be planted outdoors from the beginning of March. In colder regions, it’s wiser to put off planting early varieties until late March. Maincrop potatoes don’t need planting before April, so there’s plenty of time for those.