A Few Point on Chitting and Cutting Potatoes

[@Watchingtheparadegoby]

I don't give a chit what anyone else has to say about this channel...Im glad I found you. Like and subscribe.

[@maverick5006]

Discovered a 5# bag of Yukon Gold in back of cabinet that never got rotated. eyes were about 6" long. I Chitted (Large potatoes with 6-7 eyes per), trimmed the eyes to about two inches as an experiment. Let them chit for two weeks and planted two weeks ago. To my surprise, they are all sprouting. Anxious to see if my oversight turns out to be my fortune.

[@darlagips]

It’s 90 degree weather here near Houston, BUT I wanted to tell you that I tried the Ruth Stout method you showed a couple of years ago and I had GREAT success. I’m fortunate to have horses in my pasture that I feed round bales of hay. I had a solid clay spot on my property that I never grew anything in because it was such bad soil. I had my son and a friend of his move all the spent hay mixed with manure ( horses are so wasteful) and dump it in a space about 5 x 5. I did that in November. It was over 12” high. In February I planted 5 pounds of Nordlund red seed potatoes. I harvested 45 pounds of potatoes. And mostly all I had to do was pull up the dead plants. The potatoes were still attached to the plant. Bonus to that, there were plenty of potatoes with size growing down into the soil, but shallow enough to just tickle out. What a difference in the soil underneath. Anyway - thank you for showing exactly what you did. Oh, and I never watered the potato bed. That hay was an excellent mulch.

[@maritimegardening4887]

Didn't have to water it in Texas!!! Man that's amazing :)

[@dougzale9136]

I chit my potatoes this year some kinds took longer than others. I container harden some and this year I put some potatoes in bags those reusable grocery store bags. I use about 10 litres of soil bury the tuber about two inches of soil on top. When the sprout breaks ground I’m hilling with leaf mulch and Woodchips from last fall.

[@ccityshep]

Oh Chitt, I planted my seed potato's as soon as I got them. They are breaking the surface now so I guess it worked out. Thank's for another great video, Can't wait till the next one!

[@maritimegardening4887]

Glad to help

[@michaelboom7704]

With this great weather we're having its so hard to not go out and plant all of it...like you said in stages is the way to go.

[@leannecarter2207]

I did go plant some broccoli under some windows, and I am tempting fate with some Kale seeds, Broccoli seeds and Talon Onion seeds today. Just experimenting with a few things....

[@marilynbook4211]

I have planted mine already. Next year I may try chitting. Vesey sent them to me and my dandelions have been out for a couple of weeks.

[@KandBacres]

Had the same problem with veseys seed potatoes not shipping out soon enough. I had limited window to plant then and had been waiting with dandelions well into flower and starting to go seed. I literally planted them the day they arrived. For the price point I likely won't be buying from veseys for seed potatoes due to the fact that they were so late getting them to me. Not much you can do once you've ordered (I ordered well ahead) and just waiting for them to ship out. It also gets into heavy black fly season. I'd rather plant earlier and I mulch super heavy so frost is low risk in their first couple weeks anyway. Wonder why veseys waits til so late. I'm in Nova Scotia.

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Great info for us beginners Greg! Thanks. Happy spring.

[@maritimegardening4887]

Any time!

[@GardensGuitars]

To chit or not to chit! Interesting video. I've heard that chitting potatoes can increase yields, slightly. I think if one lives in a high latitude location, somewhere up north where there is a long season for potatoes and a fairly cool dry climate, or even a moderately warm dry climate, in those ideal potato growing locations, chitting is probably a decent idea. In the deep south or in tropical or subtropical locations where heat and humidity are a problem, I think chitting is a bad idea because it makes the plant more susceptible to soil-borne diseases. Short-season locations, I wouldn't chit either, as tubers that are whole and have multiple eyes can often resprout if a late frost kills the first above-ground sprout or two. My last frost is usually around March 15, and then I have 100 degree temperatures and tons of rain by late May, so I don't chit. But for gardeners up north or in cool dry areas, chitting is probably the best practice. I'm hoping to get a few plants to flower so I can get seeds and start to develop heat-tolerant varieties. Great video update, always like your videos. By the way, did you do the guitar music on the intro to your videos? its very good. happy gardening and cheers

[@maritimegardening4887]

Why do you think that chitting makes them more prone to disease?

[@DavidMFChapman]

I don’t plant a lot of potatoes so I buy my seed potatoes in bulk from Oceanview, but the pound. I always choose small ones, smaller than my fist but bigger than an egg. I planted a bed of Kennebec and I planted half right away and I chatted the other half before planting. We’ll see...

[@maritimegardening4887]

I love kennebecs!

[@UrbanHomesteadMomma]

Good info as always... thanks Greg!

[@maritimegardening4887]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaellippmann4474]

Holy Chit Greg that was interesting! I am lazy when it comes to potatoes and drop them into the ground just the way they are! That being said I will give it a shot next year! My saved potatoes last fall got eaten inadvertantly (long story) so I ended up buying all my seed potatoes. My potatoes are between just sprouting and a foot high (I plant in waves too...planted first potatoes in early April).... In any case have a great evening! Mike

[@maritimegardening4887]

Great man :)

[@huxleyjamison5153]

i realize it's kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good place to stream new movies online?

[@casonkade9316]

@Huxley Jamison flixportal :D

[@huxleyjamison5153]

@Cason Kade thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I really appreciate it !

[@casonkade9316]

@Huxley Jamison you are welcome :)

[@paullemay3218]

Thank you for sharing another great tip. 🇨🇦😎

[@maritimegardening4887]

No problem 👍

[@paullemay3218]

Maritime Gardening ....I do have a question about planting squash in a no dig garden. After direct seeding do you put the mulch Back over them or leave it aside like the carrots until they have sprouted. So essentially will the squash push up through the mulch (leaves) .

[@Craig_Humphries]

Thanks from Germany!

[@maritimegardening4887]

Welcome!

[@susansmith7415]

Would you plant more than one of the smallest of your seed potato in each hole if they only have one or two eyes or look dried up? . Thanks for your video; great information.

[@maritimegardening4887]

No - but I would and do plant them closer together when they are small.

[@franksinatra1070]

I have potatoes coming in any day now and I'm going to try chitting this year. Do you think putting them out on my front porch where they get around an hour of sun in the morning (this is where I harden off my plants) will be a good spot to chit or do they need more sun? My grow lights are an option too. Also, I will be putting in a later potato crop around the beginning of June for the fall. What's the best way to store them until time to plant? The garage will begin getting warm some days in May so I was wondering if it's ok to put them in the frig. If not the basement floor may be semi cool. I assume they should e kept in the dark. Thanks Greg.

[@maritimegardening4887]

I have mine indoor near a west facing window at room temp

[@theshifting9942]

Feb 1 i planted potatoes with chits approx 2 inches long . I put them indoors by a sunny window and used a grow light . April 1 we checked and there was nothing not even one starting potatoe. Do you know why .

[@maritimegardening4887]

I have no idea but I've never planted them indoors. You must have killed them somehow is my best guess. Plant them in the ground when it's warm enough and forget about grow lights :)

[@ClickinChicken]

I'm trying to see green on the eyes. what if you plant them and nothing grows? I guess you'd say just try it.

[@maritimegardening4887]

If you plant them and nothing grows (after a few weeks) dig around and see whats happening - are they sending out roots, is anything happening - etc. If they aren't growing, it was either too cold when you planted them - or Waaaay to wet (drowned), or they were not viable for some reason - in which case, don't buy them from wherever you got them again :) Generally, if they are ceritified seed potatoes and you plant them at the right time of year - they will grow - hope that helps

[@bonniehilton-paul8041]

That was a nice Chit chat. Lol

[@maritimegardening4887]

I love to choot the chit :)

[@eldonelder7254]

Greg.... It is January 7th, 2021 as I type this. I store my potatoes in my cellar. Unfortunately my cellar, while somewhat cooler than the main floors, is not cool enough for proper storage because that's where the heating system radiator is so I am not able to keep my potatoes (and other vegs) dormant. I end up with long sprouts growing out of my potato eyes which I have to handle carefully so as not to break them off when planting. I am going to closely monitor my potatoes this year and, as soon as I see the eyes starting to sprout, I will then uncover them and fully expose them to sunlight upstairs so that they will grow shorter (chitted) eyes instead of long ones. Do you think this is a good plan no matter how soon they start to sprout?

[@maritimegardening4887]

I've read that chitting for 6 weeks is ideal - I've had them out for 8 weeks and even longer. I'm sure there's a length of time that is too long and counter-productive. Also - I have mine in a west window - so they only get light for half the day (I should have mentioned that). I think you just run the risk of them getting dehydrated. Another idea - play around with a thermometer and see if you have a cold spot somewhere. Concrete floors are good of you have them right on the floor.

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

Is it better to chit winter potatoes too?

[@maritimegardening4887]

What are winter potatoes?

[@CoastalGardening]

Cut potatoes can be planted right away if you dust the cut side with lime .

[@maritimegardening4887]

I think you mean sulfur.

[@CoastalGardening]

@@maritimegardening4887 Nope , been using lime on the cut sides for decades with no bad effects to the potatoes , no risk of sweetening the soil here with that small amount , ph5.5 … well water tests ph5.5-6.0 here ...

[@ClickinChicken]

small ones are great in soups. pea soup! haha hunk of potato Dan Quakle, Potatoe. haha

[@maritimegardening4887]

Yes they are!

[@wretube]

They are sprouts .which arise from the eyes

There is a channel of a Russian lady (and her son) where they show how to produce monstrous potatoes. She actually doesn't recommend starting the potatoes on the light but in the dark. I guess both ways work but I've never seen potatoes like she has. Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZC9aoWoqM-bqdU

[@maritimegardening4887]

I can't understand what she's saying - but I do follow the technique. She seems to getting a range of sizes - and it's also worth noting the variety, since some run larger than others. The russet, for example - consistently grows large - and I'd had results similar to hers for what I can see anyway. Man I wish I knew Russian :)

@@maritimegardening4887 yeah, the automated subtitle translation is also not very helpful either. But she suggests that starting in the dark produces white and not green sprouts which should be better for the consequential yield. She tries both ways in her videos and dark gets her better results. Also she grows late potatoes (if thats the correct term - meaning 120 to 150 days of growing) and mulches it with "hot grass" so she gets the monster plants that give like a bucket of crop from a single potatoe. Too late to try this year but next year I'd like to try it out. However, I still enjoy your videos as well and the reasoning you present. Good job & fun!

[@ReefMimic]

Music too loud

[@leticiagr2222]

Haha 😜

[@ReefMimic]

I shit potatoes all the time

[@mr.chartier9256]

I crank the volume and can still barely hear you. The audio is so bad, I couldn’t even watch more than a minute of the video. Please improve your audio.

[@maritimegardening4887]

I agree, the audio is not great on this one sorry. That was filmed 2 years ago. I have better gear now. That said, it has 7800 views - so I think some people can hear it. I'm listening to it right now. I can hear every word, despite the crappy audio.