Just received Marshalls seed potatoes

[sallym]

The seed potatoes that I ordered from Marshalls came yesterday. Is it me or are they early?
I know they need to be chitted, but I didn't think they went out till Feb/March.
How do I store them until then?

[Snadger]

Blimey that is soon! They need to be stored in a light frost free area!

[sallym]

Do you think I should contact marshalls?

[no bad hi!]

i think you should store them in a frost free area and what ever you do don't let them chit but chitting potatoes willnot be long in coming around. i think i'm going to grow pinks or queens but i still have to order them.

[sallym]

Ok, a light frost free area, but will that stop them chitting? I'm a bit worried that they will be ruined come planting time and there are 5 different varieties. Thats lots of money to me.

[BrideXIII]

Snadge, when you say light i assume you mean daylight? wont that make them go green?

sallyM don't panic, we can get to the bottom of this, and i don't even grow them yet.

frost free, indoors, garage better, colder but no frost ( i get that we don't want them to grow), but the light bit? does that stop the chitting?

[tattieman]

Ideally store them in your fridge.
Next best thing is storing them in a cool dark area that is free from frost but not too warm as they go a bit soft.
I have lots of people wanting potatoes now.
I think it is a bit early but if they want them I will send them.

[no bad hi!]

DON'T PUT THEM IN THE LIGHT there is more chance of chitting then isn't there

[sallym]

So how about if I keep them in the cardboard box they arrived in and put them up on a shelf in the garage? When should I start chitting them?
Sorry about all the questions but this is first year with Lottie and I really don't want to start c@cking up before the season has even started.

[tattieman]

So how about if I keep them in the cardboard box they arrived in and put them up on a shelf in the garage? When should I start chitting them?
Sorry about all the questions but this is first year with Lottie and I really don't want to start c@cking up before the season has even started.

Leave the box open so that the potatoes can breath and not sweat.
Start chitting about 6 weeks before you want to plant them.

[Snadger]

Tattieman is the professional so please heed his advice!

All I am saying is that what you don't want to happen is for them to chit in the dark. If you put them in the dark and don't get the temperature right you could finish up with long white shoots!

I am an amateur and mine are kept in the light, where they go green and harden. If I keep them just above freezing point (on the greenhouse staging) with fleece over them on cold nights,they won't chit until spring.......and even if they do, they will finish up as small hard chits!

[sallym]

If you knew me you would know that this is not unusual but, I'M CONFUSED

[zazen999]

I've had mine delivered in Dec before, I left them in the box, and put them in the garage.

They were brought out mid jan to chit, and none had sprouted in the meantime.

Potatoes left in the ground will stay there until spring, then when it warms up they will sprout - so if they can survive the frosts outdoors they can survive in a cold garage.

[Snadger]

Another way is:-

If you have a lot and have no garage or greenhouse an outdoor 'clamp' would store them!
Six inch layer of straw, tatties on top,six inches of straw on top of tatties. Dig shallow trench around, use soil from trench to cover straw, pat down smooth and leave a small wisp of straw as a chimney. They will be safe in there until you want to start the chitting process by bringing into the warmth and light!

[tattieman]

I think everyone has had their own correct answer to this problem.
Snadgers ideas will all work, my ideas will work but that is what I do on a large scale business. Snadger has found a solution that works that I wouldn't be able to do.
We used to clamp our potatoes in the fields(long before I was born) and some days the men would go out to bring potatoes in but the clamps were frozen solid. The potatoes were still perfect inside.
Best choice for a newbie- leave in the open box in the garage and just check them every so often.
I think that's what I would do if I had to.
It's just great to see that so many people are willing to give people good advice on here.