We weren’t sure whether we were going to grow potatoes this year, but when we saw them in the garden centre we remembered how delicious home grown new potatoes are.  We were too late for first earlies, but just right for second earlies, so this is what we went for.  They had already started to chit, so we just popped them in egg boxes on the shed windowsill for another couple of weeks before planting them.  Chitting potaotes just means getting them started.  They grow chits, or little green shoots, which develop into new growth.  It’s a good idea to chit them as it gives them a bit of a head start but it isn’t strictly necessary.  Egg boxes are perfect for chitting as you can stand the potatoes up in them with the rose end uppermost.  This is the end with the most “eyes” (they look like dimples) where the shoots will grow from.  This year we are trying two different varieties, cabernet and nicola.

We dug a couple of trenches about a 10 inches deep, placed the potatoes rose end up (the end with the most chits) in the bottom and then covered them with 2 – 3 inches of soil.  As the shoots grow we will earth up by filling more of the trench with soil.  We find this easier than planting at soil level and then trying to earth up from the surrounding soil.  I’ve marked the day in the diary so that in about 16 weeks (or just as they start to flower) we shall be able to dig up wonderful new potatoes.  I’ve planted some mint too (in pots otherwise it will take over the garden!) as new potatoes are delicious either cooked or served with a little fresh mint.