I do it before so the cut edge has time to dry and seal too. I find that planting fresh cuts increases rotting and soil pest damage.

Plus that way I don't waste space planting cuts that never sprouted.

Dave

first off chitting seed potatoes has no benefit of an earlier crop or greater production. Second chitting is antiquated method only really used by old gardener or stupid British gardeners.
third cut seed potatoes is done first and the cut parts need to be let dry before planting. If you were to cut seed potatoes you really would want them unchitted. as for chitting see above.
several large organization have done test to see if chitting had a benefit. all found no real benefit. they include rhs, US department agriculture, horticulture, rodale organic group among others.

This post was edited by thegreatcob on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 11:19

At any rate, for a faster sealing of the cut, dip the cut part in wood ash. It is too alkaline for rot to set in.

Thank you for the information.

Thanks for the gratuitous insult, thegreatcob. Charming.

thegreatcob is chitting on you flora! LOL I couldn't resist!

I don't actually chit mine, but I do spread them out for a few day's in a lighted place without direct sun to let them start sprouting a little so that I can see where I need to cut them.

If the eyes aren't obvious you can cut them wrong. I cut them and let them cure for about a week before planting. Sometimes longer if the weather acts up and I can't plant.

I check for any fungus or spoiling on them every day. I cut off any fungus, keep a watch, and toss the ones that are spoiling.

you tell him flora uk , i grown potatoes in uk for 25 years and never cut any just put them in whole and chitted , only when i came to usa that i see lots of post saying cut the potato even usa potato seed seller tell you to cut them to get more for your money , to me cutting them loses the vigor and strength of the tuber imho ,

from a stupid brit in usa lol :P

People in Maine know potatoes - read this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: U of Maine potato publication

Sorry Allie. Especially since you made a point of asking so politely. One rude individual is capable of posting insults only and blowing any attempts at civil conversation.

Hope you got the info you were seeking.

Dave

This post was edited by digdirt on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 16:01

Yup, you want to cut early, as you want to give them several days if not a week or two to completely scab over from the cut before you plant them.

In all honesty though, unless you've got a baking potato sized tuber, you don't need to cut it.

Jonfrum - a very useful link! Thanks.

I've cut potatoes and planted them the same day without problem. That doesn't mean you shouldn't dry them, but not doing so doesn't mean disaster. Just dusting them in a fungicide like sulfur will probably do the job.

flora_uk i stated only stupid gardeners but did not know you were stupid till you admitted it.
Even rhs admits chitting advice was an old wives tale.

oldpot the tubers do not lose vigor if cut them.
second cutting the seed tubers makes them go farther.

third they cut tubers in the old uk garden info saw from the dig for victory era during ww2. but then again so much UK
garden advice is not based on fact but old practice and beliefs.

Yes Cob/Grid is a very charming poster on several forums where he is received equally graciously by all there.

Potatoes, yes let them start to sprout, nothing fancy, just move them out of storage into warmer and brighter surroundings. Cut 24-36 hours before planting so they can harden but not shrivel up, which they will do if you cut too soon. Plant cut side down.
If you can pick out your seed stock by hand choose small spuds that will not need cutting. Irish Eyes actually has these as a separate order which is nice.

I am doing an experiment with seed potatoes received on the same day because I've never planted potatoes and I liked the idea of being able to watch them grow. I cut half of them, and let them cure for 2 days before planting. The others have been chitting in a windowsill. They've been growing very slowly -- just small 1/8" long sprouts after about 3 weeks. I'll probably plant them this weekend.

Does anyone know how long it takes between planting them and when they will start to grow? It's been about 3-4 weeks now and no sign of life from the ones I've planted outside in SmartPots (temps have been between 45 (night) - 70 (day) for the past month). I think I've been doing a good job of keeping the soil moist, I hope they're still okay under there!

It depends how deep you planted. I plant shallowly with a bulb planter so I can hill up when they emerge. Since I have a weed problem in the field I need to hoe a lot.

{{gwi:28514}}

Pic before inserting in ground. This year I will use a transplanter instead of the bulb planter so I don't have to bend.

I'm jealous. If I cut a seed potato the voles will sniff it out in two days! All mine must be thoroughly greened up and whole if they are to stand a chance.

Our vole situation is steadily improving with the feline help, but meanwhile I've had to give up cutting seed potatoes.

I didn't know it was called chitting but I guess that is what I do and after I cut them, I let them scab over a bit for up to a week to help prevent rot. So far so good. My big problem is, I get too greedy and cut pieces too small. I saw something on YouTube the other day that leads me to believe my pieces are too small and I need not cut up the potato in so many pieces.

I don't have vast experience at growing potatoes, however, I do have some. I have planted potatoes without sprouts on them and with. The ones without sprouts on them took way longer to emerge from the soil. I'm talking WEEKS longer. The ones with sprouts emerged within days. So yeah, from that I learned that there is an advantage to planting sprouted seed potatoes over those that are not. I have never put the potatoes in egg cartons and waited for them to "chit." In fact, until now, I'd never even heard the term, "chitting" a seed potato. Learn something every day.

Also, I have never "dried" cut up potatoes before planting. Have had zero problem with rot... and I live in an area with cool, often very wet springs: Southern Willamette Valley of Oregon. Not saying it's not a good idea, I've just lived in ignorant bliss.

Since my area has long, cool, wet springs, one has to jump like mad onto a garden plot as soon as the soil is reasonably dry enough to till and amend. I got my potatoes in in rather cool, very moist soil this spring... then the rain came back and sogged things up again. But I was pleased that I had the little monkeys in the soil! From what I have read that I did the wrong thing planting before the soil was all perfectly warm and fluffy and without flaw. Huh. Will you look at that: my wrongly planted potatoes are now (first part of May) emerged and growing rapidly. And it's predicted to be raining and cool for the next 4 or 5 days.

I decided to experiment with planting depths this year. One row I put 10" deep. The next, 6", and the last, 3". All have emerged now, but as one would expect, the deeper row emerged last. Should be interesting to mark the progress and production.

Oh, yeah, get this: I don't buy expensive seed potatoes. I just use ordinary grocery store potatoes that have sprouted. I know... that just doesn't work. But, yeah, actually it does. They grow just fine once they've sprouted.

I'm such a rebel, such a mad crazy rule breaker! Out of freaking control! ;oP