How to Chit Seed Potatoes: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you're looking to achieve an early and successful potato harvest, chitting seed potatoes is a simple yet effective technique to give your plants a head start. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, learning how to chit seed potatoes properly will lead to stronger plants and a more bountiful yield. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure a healthy potato crop this growing season.

What is Chitting?

Chitting is the process of encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting. By allowing your potatoes to develop strong shoots indoors, they will establish faster once planted in the soil, leading to an earlier and potentially larger harvest. This method is particularly useful in cooler climates where the growing season is shorter, ensuring that your potatoes reach maturity before the colder months set in.

Why should you chit seed potatoes?

Chitting seed potatoes is not mandatory, but it offers several advantages that can improve your overall yield. Some key benefits include:

· Faster growth: chitted potatoes establish themselves more quickly, allowing them to get ahead of potential pests and diseases

·    Earlier Harvest: since the potatoes start growing earlier, you can harvest them sooner than non-chitted potatoes.

·         Stronger plants: The sprouting process helps ensure that only the healthiest and strongest shoots develop, leading to more vigorous plants. 

·         Increased yield: more robust plants often produce a higher yield, giving you more potatoes to enjoy

When to start chitting seed potatoes

Chitting should begin about 4-6 weeks before you plant your potatoes outdoors. In most regions, this means starting in late January to early March. The exact timing will depend on your local climate and the potato variety you are growing. Early varieties, such as “Rocket” and “Swift”, benefit the most from chitting as they are typically planted earlier in the season.

How to chit seed potatoes

Step 1: Select healthy seed potatoes

Start with certified seed potatoes from a reputable supplier to reduce the risk of disease. Avoid using supermarket potatoes, as they may have been treated to prevent sprouting. Certified seed potatoes are specifically grown to be free from common diseases such as potato blight and scab.

Step 2: Identify the rose end

Examine your seed potatoes and locate the end with the most “eyes” (small indentations where sprouts emerge). This is known as the rose end and should be placed facing upwards when chitting. If you are unsure, look for the rounder, broader end of the potato, as this is usually where the most eyes are concentrated.

Step 3: Arrange in trays or egg cartons

Place your seed potatoes in a single layer in an open container, such as an egg carton, seed tray, or a shallow box lined with newspaper. Make sure the rose end is facing upwards to allow the strongest shoots to develop. Avoid overcrowding to ensure each potato has enough space to sprout properly.

Step 4: Provide the right conditions

Keep your potatoes in a cool, bright location (around 10oC) with plenty of indirect light. A windowsill, greenhouse, or unheated room is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight and high humidity, which can cause excessive sprouting or rot. A garage or porch with natural light works well for this process.

Step 5: Monitor growth and adjust conditions

Over the next few weeks, small green or purple shoots will appear. Ideally, you want short, sturdy sprouts (about 1 inch long) rather than long, weak ones. If the shoots become too long and leggy, the potatoes may be in a location that is too warm or too dark. Adjusting their position to a cooler, brighter spot can help correct this.

Step 6: Prepare for planting

Once your potatoes have strong sprouts, they are ready for planting. Handle them carefully to avoid breaking the shoots. If you have larger seed potatoes, you can cut them into smaller pieces, ensuring that each piece has at least two healthy shoots. Allow cut pieces to dry for a day before planting to reduce the risk of rotting.

How to plant chitted potatoes

When the time is right for planting, follow these guidelines for the best results:

·         Soil preparation: potatoes thrive in well-draining, nutrient rich soil. Prepare your planting area by loosening the soil and adding compost or well-rotted manure.

·         Planting depth and spacing: dig trenches about 4-6 inches deep and space seed potatoes 12-15 inches apart. Space rows about 30 inches apart to allow for healthy growth

·         Positioning: place the chitted potatoes with the shoots facing upwards and gently cover them with soil

·         Watering: keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Potatoes require consistent moisture, especially during tuber formation

Troubleshooting common issues

Even with proper chitting, you may encounter a few common problems. Here's how to address them:

·         Shoots too long: if the sprouts exceed 1-2 inches, they may break off easily. Trim excessively long shoots to prevent damage during planting

·         Soft or wrinkled potatoes: this could indicate dehydration. Try moving them to a slightly cooler or more humid environment

·         Rotten or mouldy potatoes: remove any potatoes showing signs of rot or mould immediately to prevent spreading to others

Alternative chitting methods

If space is limited, consider these alternative chitting methods

·         Using paper bags: place seed potatoes in a breathable paper bag and store them in a cool, light place

·         Egg cartons on a shelf: if you only have small number of potatoes to chit, egg cartons placed on a well-lit shelf can work well

·         Growing in containers: if you plan to grow potatoes in containers, you can chit them in the same pots they will be grown in to minimise transplant shock

Final thoughts

Chitting seed potatoes is a simple yet highly effective way to improve your harvest. By starting the sprouting process early and following the right techniques, you can enjoy a more productive and healthy potato crop. Whether you’re growing early or maincrop varieties, the extra effort of chitting can make a significant difference in your garden’s success.

For high quality, explore our selection of seed potatoes at Boston Bulbs. Happy gardening!