STEP BY STEP

Potato chitting

Get ahead by chitting your seed potatoes around six weeks before planting in March. Look on the tuber for the mark where the old stalk was attached. This is the base − stand it on this end so the developing chits or buds are the right way up. If you don’t manage this before planting, you’ll still get a crop but it will shoot a bit later.

1 PLACE the tubers in a light, frost-free place, such as a porch or unheated greenhouse. Egg cartons will keep them upright.

2 TUBERS will chit properly in the light, kept in the dark they will sprout useless long shoots like these that should be removed.

3 SEVERAL short, sturdy dark green or purple chits appear at the top of the tuber, two or three chits are ideal, rub off any excess.