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At last, it feels like I’m doing something productive again. Laying seed potatoes out in trays or egg boxes to chit (encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting) really is the start of the growing year for me. Some say chitting potatoes isn’t necessary, I get stupidly excited about chitting mine so I’ll carry on doing it regardless.
This year I’m planning to grow Charlotte (a salad variety) and Desiree main crop. They’re firm favourites of mine and always seem to do well on my plot.
By the way, I think potato flowers are utterly gorgeous…..
What are you planning to grow in your potato bed this year? If it ever stops raining!
Sweet potato! Planted 9 days ago in the pouring rain and it’s developed a mind of its own…
Hurray, good to hear that it is time for the growing to begin. I have some Nadines, and a few Charlottes and Maris Piper. I shall be looking out the egg boxes.
Fingerlings. But what I’m more excited about is last year, I saw several people grow them in old chicken feed bags and I’m very limited on space so I want to try that this year. And I’m super excited. When you harvest them, you just put all the composted dirt from the bags around the fruit trees.
The way it’s going at the moment, although my potatoes are in their egg boxes, the only thing likely to go into my potato beds here in north Wales is……fish!!!!!
Hi, nice spuds. Did you sow those sweet potatoes direct? I’ve got my in water, awaiting some roots. :)
Charlotte are my favourite potatoes, and I also grow Desiree. I’m also growing some first earlies Vales Emerald and another second early Kestrel.
Like you I chit all mine, and feel that it’s the start of the new season. xx
We’re going to grow King Edwards and also Anya – like you, one salad and one main crop.
I agree that the process of chitting potatoes feels like the growing season is on its return. Charlotte are a lovely variety, reliable and with great flavour, one of my favourites. Last year. I grew 8 varieties, including the purple-fleshed Violetta for novelty value. This year I’ve reined myself in and I have just five varieties chitting away – Charlotte, International Kidney (again, great ,for taste), Sarpo Mira (for blight resistance), Maris Piper and Setanta. Hopefully when it’s time to plant them out this seemingly endless rain might just have decided to take a break!
We set ours to chit last weekend too. We’ve gone for Red Duke of York and Pentland Javelin as first earlies and Pink Fir Apple for a salad potato.
Another vote for Charlotte potatoes, they are lovely small – but every year I forget a few and they do fine, growing enormous… Love your blog, wonderful photos!
Hoorah, it is (sadly) exciting when this time arrives isn’t it! Ready to start this weekend. Last year tried Sharpe’s Express as the early, Bonnie as the second and Desiree main crop. Bonnie were delicious and a good crop, Desiree were lovely and again a good crop. Sharpe’s went in a bit late, but am trying them again this year together with the Bonnie and the main will be Cabaret.
Many thanks alderandash :)
That did make me laugh, David!
How long before planting is chitting recommended? I’ve thought of trying to grow potatoes for the first time this year. :)
Growing potatoes is by far my favorite. Especially when it comes to harvest! And I agree, potato flowers are beautiful!
Potatoes, same as you only just a few. At the moment we are still very wet outside, but that will all stop soon won’t it!
Crawforddogs, you don’t have to chit potatoes in order to grow them, I just like to give mine a head start by chitting them for a month or so before planting (end of March through to May depending on weather conditions), to produce strong healthy sprouts.
We are off to the East Anglian Potato Day tomorrow. We definately want Charlottes and really enjoyed our bumper harvest of Pink Fir Apples last year. As for the rest, we are happy to experiment. Can’t wait to start chitting them, will finally feel like the growing season is on it’s way!
Just off to our local potato day to get our seed spuds. Cara, Charlotte, Pentland Javelin and Orla.
Right now my little veg plot is underwater so the planning has stopped. I do have elephant garlic and garlic out there. Hope it will survive :)
Reblogged this on sow, hoe, grow, and know and commented:
This is a great blog and this article goes along with my bag of chitting blue potatoes.
Yeah, potato flower are very pretty! The flowering potato field looks very attractive!
I think I already have potatoes chitting in my cupboards! We moved into a new house during the winter and I can’t wait to get my gardens started.