Chitting Potatoes

No, that's not a typo.

Chitting potatoes means to stimulate new growth before actually planting them in the ground.  It's risky to plant potatoes before the danger of frost (or freezing temperatures) is over, so a way to get them growing early is chitting.

This process means to put them in the sun, rose side up, about 4-6 weeks before planting to encourage new growth (shoots).  Then when planting time arrives, you've got a six week jump-start... which also translates into an earlier harvest.

This year I am planting Red Pontiac, Red LaSoda, White Kennebec, and Peruvian Blue.

If you look closely you can see sprouts just beginning to emerge.  I've been chitting them for 2 weeks... but will continue to do so for another 3-4 weeks.

This is (about) 80 pounds of seed potato.