I put ours in trays to chit as soon as I get them (last week) and leave them until I and the weather are ready for planting in March or April. I don't believe that there is a specific length of time for chitting.

Hello bulbaholic ... have you ever tried not chitting, especially when using bags/boxes etc? Last year, I chitted all my veg plot ones successfully, mounding up as usual, and had good crops. I also had two small builders type bags going spare, and experimented with 18" compost, then 4 seed potatoes, then another 12" compost, another 4 seed potatoes at opposite angles to the others, then topped it up by another 12" compost. I fed with potato feed twice and kept moist but not wet, spiking a few holes in the base. Well, by the time the potatoes had reached maturity - I counted 103 potatoes over 5 weeks of harvesting. It was a rooster maincrop and all from 8 unchipped potatoes! I am thinking therefore of not bothering with chitting and planting deep instead, earlier, into my plot. I will do same again with the bags for earlies. What do you think?

Hi, A. There have been times when I have not chitted potatoes but it was a long time ago and I was not keeping any records. I would imagine that this was in the days when I would have bought the seed just before planting time.
A couple of years ago I did try planting deep so that I did not have to earth-up to the usual extent. I found that the crop matured later than usual and was probably lighter. I have now gone back to more tradional methods.

Thank you bulbaholic - I will again try doing both, but with same potato seed - one of rooster with usual chitting and mounding, and one lot in bags without chitting and mounding, and will let you know what happens. It feels good to experiment, and I am itching to get spuds growing!!

hi have you ever tried growing tates under black plastic sheeting.dig the plot lay the sheet out put some soil around the edges to hold it down.cut a cross in the sheet put the tates under the cross just to one side and leave.no ridging to do either good luck.

Seem to remember trying this once a very long time ago and being very disappointed with the results, but that's probably just me. I would only try it with a small quantity the first year, just to see.

Interesting thought kennyboy ... how deep under the plastic are you putting the potatoes? As I live in the midlands, I would be concerned about the black plastic absorbing too much heat, though planting really early in December/January under the plastic could produce a welcome early crop? When do you start with yours?

hi i used to grow late tates i just put my hand through the cross in the sheet and push then in. in sandy soil what soil have you got there.why not just try a couple of rows first.if at first you dont succeed keep trying till you do.good luck.

Thank you kennyboy - will do!

your welcome.