Potatoes have a long growing season, so they need to be planted right at the start of spring if you hope to harvest any potatoes at all come summer. Sometimes, despite our best efforts and investment in the very best quality seed potatoes, these staple root vegetables don't give us the crops we dream of. Hungry gardeners at the end of their tether can try a process called chitting to start their seed potatoes faster — and get edible potatoes in the pot and on the table sooner. All you need is an empty cardboard egg carton (that's the unexpected kitchen scrap), some seed potatoes, and a sunny kitchen windowsill or sheltered spot on a patio.
Chitting Your Seed Potatoes - A Gardening Mistake Everyone Makes
Do you even need to chit your seed potatoes? After all, un-sprouted tubers planted directly into the ground at the right time (read: early to mid-spring) will also produce a healthy vine. But that's a gardening mistake everyone makes when growing potatoes. If you want to get started on your crop early, ensure all the seed potatoes you bought sprout, grow the healthiest possible vines, and perhaps most importantly, harvest a lot of delicious produce sooner — chitting is the way to go. Chitting is referred to as such in the U.K., where almost every gardener does it. The practice is common in North America, too, but you're more likely to see it referred to as greening, greensprouting, or pre-sprouting.
Gather the goods
Egg cartons make the perfect potato sprouting vessels. Either plastic or cardboard works just fine, though using a cardboard egg carton reduces the chance of moisture building up underneath the potato, potentially leading to it rotting. If you're using the style with the lid, cut it off using sharp scissors. Size doesn't matter — if you have a cavity for each seed potato you want to sprout, you're good to go. Take some time to identify an ideal chitting spot in or around your home, too. The place you plan to green your potatoes should be bright, dry, and not too hot or too cool. Sunny windowsills, sunrooms, greenhouses, or a sheltered area on a porch or patio all work well.
When starting your potato garden, it's important to choose the right potatoes. Avoid using old, shriveled potatoes from your pantry as they may be treated with sprout inhibitors and could carry diseases. Instead, purchase early-season seed potatoes from a reputable nursery. Wood Prairie Family Farm in Maine and Irish Eyes in Washington both offer a variety of early-season organic potato options. These potatoes are less susceptible to common diseases, such as blight. Prices start at $12 a pound. When your seed potatoes arrive, inspect them for any signs of disease and discard any that don't look healthy. Make sure to plant each potato with the rose or the largest eye facing up. Potatoes larger than an egg can be cut in half, as long as each half has at least one eye. Do not add potting mix to the egg cartons and keep them dry.
How to Grow Potatoes from Seed Potatoes
If you're interested in growing your own potatoes, you can start by planting seed potatoes. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Choose a spot with little foot traffic, as potato shoots are fragile. Place the trays in this pre-selected spot.
- Wait for about six weeks for the potatoes to develop sprouts strong enough to plant. Look for short, dark green to purple seedlings with small leaves starting to appear.
- If the sprouts look leggy and pale, move the tray to an area with more sunlight.
- If desired, snap off some of the weaker sprouts to give more energy to the remaining ones.
- A seed potato is ready to plant once its shoots have hardened.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow your own potatoes from seed potatoes. Enjoy the process and the delicious results!
