I learned this method from the english nurseryman I worked for in the 70's. He used to start some potatoes in flats this way in Dec/Jan, he also started bush peas the same way. He put them in a sunny window then planted them out after they had grown some. These were harvested quite early in the season for the first feed of fresh peas and new potatoes.

Annette

Annette,

How interesting to learn something new about you! That's awesome!

I do this every year - I just didn't know there was a proper name for it.

In December, I buy a big bag of Red Pontiacs for Christmas Dinner...much more than we need.
Then sprout...er... chit the remaining ones and plant them out around Sr. Patty's Day - March 17th.

Because of my being ill and the crazy fluctuating weather this Spring, I didn't get them planting in the earth...yet.

It's cold AGAIN today and rainy. We had tornadoes last night. Nearly blew my livingroom windows into the house with the fierce blasts. The entire house shook. Then the temps dropped down dramatically into the 30s again and it is still a mite chilly today. Supposed to warm back up for the weekend.

Cold, rainy, wet or not, I am planting my potatoes this weekend...if I can get someone to do it for me, that is! I am out of commission for the time being and not sure when that will end.

I've seen this term on the vegetable forum but wasn't sure what it meant. For some reason I thought it had to do with cutting them. Who knew I've been chitting my potatoes for so many years. I could say it must be the Irish in me, but it's really that I have to buy them earlier than I can work my garden, so they usually do start sprouting. Glad I finally learned what it means.

I know this is off-subject, but your post brought back memories. When I was a kid (but old enough to have known better.) I was visiting my aunt who wanted someone to go out to her garden to get potatoes for her to cook for supper so I volunteered. Well, when I got to the garden there were no potatoes in sight. She sent my cousin out with me (my cousin handed me a fork and I didn't know why). Just imagine, the potatoes were UNDER ground!

Just awhile ago I was at the local farm store and they had bins of seed potatoes, and some were "chitting". Some other people were there and I almost said "Look, some of these potatoes are chitting" - to sound real smart. Then I thought they might misinterpret the word for another that start with "sh". I put the potato back.

LOL schoolhouse. That's too cute

Schoolhouse,

Did I put those words into your mouth? Very funny anecdotal story. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

For those of you who may be wanting more info on how to Chit Potatoes, I found this interesting article in Mother Earth News online:
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Here is a link that might be useful: Get a Head Start with Chitting Potatoes

Hi sweetannie4u,..i like to wind up some of my friends who are not gardeners when i start,.. my gardening talk,..and also some of those whom are gardeners would not be aware of "Chitting",..not the "Chelsea Cut",..the latter i use very often when i don't want all of my flowers to bloom and fade at the same time,..give some the "Chelsea Cut",..so they flower after the others are gone,..still one has to be careful when talking about "Chitting",..pronounce the word with care lol.

Philip

Adds an altogether new meaning to the phrase, "Chit chat", now doesn't it?

Hi sweetannie4u,..it surely does lol,..and to add to this there is a bird named a "Chat",..this is like the word association game.

all this talk about chitting reminds me of the new Kmart commercial about "shipping pants"

Have you all seen it??
....Hope you all think it's funny. (It's not gardening related)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I03UmJbK0lA

Here is a link that might be useful: KMART- ship my pants