Potatoes chitted too early

BouncingBack

Bought some Anya (second early) seed potatoes yesterday only to find them already chitted straight from the shop and ready to plant out. I've never grown potatoes before and will be growing them in bags. The weather is still too cold to plant them out up here and looks set to be very cold for the next few weeks. Is there anything I can do or are these for the bin?

Uff

I can see more tiny chits so if they were mine I'd take off all the long ones and then keep them in a dark, dry, cold place and keep my eye on them. I think they should be fine. 

BouncingBack

Brilliant, thank you. I'll nip them off - will the fridge do?

Jenny_Aster

Think I'd plant them in your bags, and place them in a sheltered spot. Fill the bag to a 1/3 or 1/2 and as the plants grow keep covering them up to protect them from frost until their bag is full. 

Uff

So long as it's not too cold as it might 'nip' them. Aren't gardeners terms odd? 

BouncingBack

Jenny_Aster said:

Think I'd plant them in your bags, and place them in a sheltered spot. Fill the bag to a 1/3 or 1/2 and as the plants grow keep covering them up to protect them from frost until their bag is full. 

We have a small and pretty exposed garden, and live in one of the coldest and wettest parts of the UK - I'd rather wait a little longer after looking at the forecast but am an amateur!

BouncingBack

Uff said:

So long as it's not too cold as it might 'nip' them. Aren't gardeners terms odd? 

Oh I had no idea that was a term for something else entirely! So much to learn. We don't really have any cold places in the house, nor a garage. Possibly under the kitchen cabinets?

Skandi

I would take off the long shoots and then put the potatoes somewhere light, right now my window ledges are full of potatoes some of which looked like that, once you take off the long shoot they will concentrate on growing the smaller eyes out.

Sheps

Agree with @Skandi they ideally need to be somewhere light, otherwise you'll continue to get those long white shoots, mine are on window sills out of direct sunlight.

bcpathome

Why would you put them in the fridge ……you’ve already pointed out about the cold .  Just break off the longest shoots and put them back in the cartons and leave them somewhere out of the way till you plant them .

war garden 572

if store them in frig they will not resproat till then get warm again. 

if used a nappy on the seed potatoes you would not
have had a chitty problem like this.