Horticultural aide-mémoire

Chit potatoes

The potato lover now begins the annual process of starting First Early potatoes, the best of all. Choose a reliable favourite such as ‘Pentland Javelin’ or ‘Home Guard’, depending on your soil type. Place the seed potato tubers rose end up (the most buds), gently packed side by side into a low-sided box. Then put the box on the windowsill of a shed. No heating is required, but if frost threatens, lay a couple of sheets of newspaper over the top. The process is slow, but sure, as the purply-green leaves emerge and the daily inspection is part of the rite of spring. SCD