Chitting potatoes is an allotmenteering institution. It must be done every year and it must be done properly.

When you but your seed potatoes it is no good to just put them in the ground, they need to be kept in a cool light place for their eyes to start sprouting. This can take anywhere up to around two weeks to happen.

When the eyes have sprouted you will notice about 6-10 shoots from the potato – now is the perfect time to sow them. If you want a few large good quality potatoes it can be a good idea to rub off a few of the sprouts so only about 3 or 4 shoots take. Otherwise leave them all on and harvest the small potatoes early for lots of yummy early spuds.