Foremost Charlotte

Just when you thought this winter is going to be on the way out, the cold has returned, but didn't put me off to start chitting some early potatoes, which will hopefully be ready to go in the ground in the middle of March. This time we picked "Foremost" first earlies and the well known and reliable "Charlotte" for second early potatoes.

Photo taken by the author - all rights reserved.

The place on this window sill is ideal. Unfortunately this photo was taken in the dark, but this place is really bright and relatively chilly for most of the day, so the process will take some time.

If the room is too warm, the germination can be much faster than you think, resulting in weak stems, which are ready by far too early, and can be completely lost, if planting is not possible at that point in time (if the nights are still frosty, for instance).

In difference to a number of people who are convinced that chitting is a waste of time, I do chit them every year, and have had only good results ever since. I think that the sturdier and more resistant stems the plants develop quickly once previously chitted, help them in our place overcoming the many diseases we struggle with, e.g. with fungi and slugs.