Walk into any garden centre in January and you will find trays of seed potatoes for sale. Buying early lets you chit them, an old gardener's trick that gives the plants a head start and, with early varieties, a noticeably bigger crop.
What chitting actually does
Chitting simply means letting the tubers grow short, sturdy shoots before planting, so they are already away when they go in the ground. It is most worthwhile for first and second earlies, where a couple of weeks' head start brings the harvest forward.
How to do it
The method could not be simpler. The aim is light and cool, not warmth, which would only force long, weak shoots.
- Stand the tubers in egg boxes or trays, most eyes pointing up.
- Put them somewhere cool, frost-free and bright, like a porch windowsill.
- Wait four to six weeks for short, green, stubby shoots.
What good chits look like
You want chits about two centimetres long, dark green and firm. Long, pale, spindly shoots mean the spot was too warm and dark, so move them somewhere brighter. Some gardeners rub off all but the three or four strongest shoots for fewer but larger potatoes.
Don't rush to plant
Chitted or not, potatoes must not go into cold, wet soil. Wait until the worst frosts have passed, usually from mid-March in milder areas, and plant the chitted tubers gently so the fragile shoots do not snap off.