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Want a bigger, earlier potato harvest this year?
In this video I show you exactly how to chit potatoes step-by-step — the simple method that helps seed potatoes sprout strong shoots before planting.
Chitting gives your potatoes a head start, encourages stronger growth and can lead to earlier crops — especially useful in the growing season.
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0:00
Let's chit our Simply Seed potatoes.
0:03
Welcome to Gardening with Ben. And today
0:05
we're going to be chitting. We got a big
0:07
parcel from Simply Seed the other day.
0:09
And yeah, weren't expecting more
0:11
potatoes, but we've got them and we will
0:14
grow them cuz I absolutely love
0:17
homegrown potatoes. Nothing better and
0:19
nothing tastes better than homegrown
0:21
potatoes, apart from sweet corn. That's
0:23
my other favorite. So, what varieties
0:25
did we get from Simply Seed? We got the
0:28
SPRO variety
0:32
and we also got the Heidi red ones. So,
0:34
we got a red one and we've got the
0:37
standard variety as well. So, yeah,
0:40
we're going to get these chittered.
0:41
Chittered means that you put them in egg
0:44
cartons or in
0:46
cells stood up with the eyes facing up
0:50
so that they can start sprouting. Now,
0:52
they need to be somewhere light, cool,
0:55
and frostfree and not get damp as well.
0:59
So, we've not got anywhere at home. So,
1:01
we're going to store them in our mini
1:02
green houses in our poly tunnel. So, an
1:05
extra layer of protection. And yeah,
1:07
we're going to get them sprouted. You
1:08
don't want them somewhere dark because
1:10
that grows leggy sprouts and that can
1:12
make them worse off. So, when you go to
1:14
a garden center and you see them
1:15
absolutely covered in like loads of
1:18
shoots, don't go for them ones. wanting
1:21
just small little shoots of them. And
1:23
the reason why people chit them is
1:25
because then they're usually ready
1:27
probably about a month earlier than they
1:29
would be if you did not chit them. So it
1:31
doesn't matter. You don't have to chit
1:32
them. You can just put them straight in
1:34
the ground when it's time. Or you can
1:36
give them that little bit of head start.
1:39
And we'll be planting these in our
1:42
ground or in our buckets come Good
1:45
Friday. We always plan on Good Friday.
1:47
It's to do with the moon. It's an old
1:48
gardener's tale and it's one that I've
1:50
stuck to. I know Good Friday moves every
1:52
year, but it's to do with the moon. So,
1:54
that is what I've stuck to. We have
1:56
these little things that we follow and
1:59
yeah, I've always stuck to it. So, let's
2:01
get some trays and let's get these in
2:03
position for chitting.
2:05
So, as I've got no egg boxes, I'll be
2:07
using seed trays. I save all these from
2:10
when we get as plants in them. I never
2:12
chuck anything away. So, I've got
2:13
absolutely loads of seed trays. So yeah,
2:16
we're going to put these in the cells
2:19
and faced up with the eyes facing to the
2:23
top. So it's as easy as that, just
2:25
putting them in just like that, stood up
2:27
with the eyes facing the top. And
2:29
obviously keep your label and your bag
2:31
so that you know which variety they are
2:33
as well. And put them somewhere light
2:35
and cool.
2:38
So that's them all put into the trays.
2:40
So, we need to put them into our mini
2:42
greenhouse now to keep them cool, dry,
2:45
and frostfree. And hopefully they'll get
2:47
sprouting.
2:50
So, there we are. We have put them in
2:52
our mini greenhouse to get chitting and
2:55
to keep cool and dry. So, yeah, those
2:59
will be planted out on Good Friday.
3:02
So, I hope you've enjoyed that video on
3:04
us chitting our potatoes. And make sure
3:07
you drop us a follow to stay up to date
3:09
for when we plant these out in the
3:10
ground or in the buckets. Until next
3:13
time everyone, remember keep smiling,
3:15
keep shining and keep gardening.
#Home & Garden
#Home & Garden