potatoes

[Salina]

I just planted some potatoes, how long will it be before they start growing their leaves/stalks etc?

thanks!

[kernowyon]

hi Salina

welcome to the vine, depending on the variety of spud they should start to show signs of growth in no time at all, providing they were chitted, mine took 2-3 weeks.

[Salina]

thanks!
and also, at the risk of sounding incredibly dim lol, what does chitted mean?

[jacob marley]

It means when they are in storage before planting they start to grow tiny leaves and shoots from the rose end of the potatoe IE where the eyes are some times when kept in to dark a place they grow long straily white shoots not recommended full light is the best you get nice dark green chits for best results Jacob

[Dig-in-Dudley]

I'm growing spuds for the first time this year & didn't realise that you needed to chit them. The first batch went in "unchitted" & still manged to put on some serious foliage & they're romping away. My second & third batch were chitted properly (a BIG thank you to a colleague of my husband who put me right) and they're looking pretty good too. I'm not sure whether I've just been extremely lucky but I'm keeping everything crossed and hope for a decent yield from all my tatty bags! Good Luck!

[Snadger]

I'm growing spuds for the first time this year & didn't realise that you needed to chit them. The first batch went in "unchitted" & still manged to put on some serious foliage & they're romping away. My second & third batch were chitted properly (a BIG thank you to a colleague of my husband who put me right) and they're looking pretty good too. I'm not sure whether I've just been extremely lucky but I'm keeping everything crossed and hope for a decent yield from all my tatty bags! Good Luck!

I think the general consensus of opinion is that you need to 'chit' earlies but not maincrops!