Potatoes Chitting

[chris1969]

Hi there

I've been chitting some potatoes (main crop and first earlies) in my garage for the last 6 weeks with a view to growing them in my garden this spring. The garage is fairly cool and will have protected the potatoes from the worst of the cold snap in February.

However I am a bit concerned because both sets of potatoes now seem to be quite soft. Also, the earlies have very few chits, while the main crops have a a very light fur on their chits (which are very long I have to say).

Should be worried about any of this, or is this fairly typical for chitted potatoes?

Many thanks

Chris

[Thomas W]

Originally Posted by chris1969

... I've been chitting some potatoes (main crop and first earlies) in my garage for the last 6 weeks with a view to growing them in my garden this spring. The garage is fairly cool and will have protected the potatoes from the worst of the cold snap in February. ...

What kind of temperatures are we talking about here?

Originally Posted by chris1969

... However I am a bit concerned because both sets of potatoes now seem to be quite soft. Also, the earlies have very few chits, while the main crops have a a very light fur on their chits (which are very long I have to say). ...

It's best to have 1 cm short sprouts because they will not break so easily when you plant them. Some people even break off most of the sprouts so only one remain.

[chris1969]

Hi Thomas

Thanks for your reply. The outside temperature was cold enough for it to snow so around freezing. It wasn't that cold in the garage and was probably about 5 degrees centigrade, although I must admit I didn't keep a record of the temperature.

Many thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Chris

[mor]

l thinking may be the temp in the garage may have been too much for the potatoes.

[snohare]

Some varieties of potatoes do have furry sprouts. It is one of the identifying characteristics of a potato for a commercial grower - sprouts and eyes come in all shapes, colours and sizes.
The softness may just be as a result of dehydration. If so, then in a short while you would expect to see them become wrinkled. They will still grow, but to give them a better chance simply sit them in water overnight and they will soak water back in through the skins. (According to my father, who was an orra loon on a farm in his younger days.)
I have seen me chit potatoes for literally months, by accident, and despite their being wizened and shrunken they have still developed into worthwhile potato plants, likewise for soft potatoes.