New Potatoes

[tooj]

Hello, are there any gardeners about.yesterday I asked a question and got no replies.I have bought some seed potatoes and they each have one 4-5" sprout. Should I pull them off to try and encourage more sprouts or should I plant them as they are ? Advice would be welcome as I should like to plant them next week if the weather picks up!

[Barmaid]

Ideally you want 2 or 3 stubby chits - no more than an inch long.

[Clanad]

Gardening is one of those things on which everyone has an opinion... all based on personal experiences. Here, in the U.S., I learned gardenign from a grandfather and he maintained that the longer any sporuts are on potato sets, the better. His reasoning was that the sprout becomes part of the root system and is, therefore desirable for having the set take "root" quickly and efficiently. I always leave as much of the sprout as I can, since they tend to preak off easily. Additionally, cut off a goodly chunk of the potato set to include the sprout and then continue to cut the reaminder into sets just making sure each contains an "eye". Best of luck!

[jayemcee]

Personally I would remove excessively long or weedy looking chits and place the seed pots in an egg tray in a cool place to shoot new ones. Even the " experts " do not agree on all aspects of gardening. One finds out what is best in the area where one gardens over a period of time.

[Maydup]

...and just make sure the ground has warmed up a bit before you plant them. Its better to be late than early wih planting. You'll ge nowhere if they sit it cold damp soil.

I'm keeping mine until at least the end of the month and into April if need be. But come what may I'll pant one row on Good Friday as its full moon. An old wives tail tells me to do it but I've always had successful crops of new potatoes.

[tooj]

Been away two days. Thanks for the advice.