Potato Ratte: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sprout Ratte seed potatoes?
To prepare your Ratte seed potatoes, choose certified seed tubers that are firm and healthy. Reject any that are soft or show signs of rot. Sprouting them before planting, known as chitting, gives the plants a head start. It is especially useful for early crops, but it is not essential.
Start a few weeks before the planting date suited to your local climate. Arrange the whole tubers in a single layer in egg boxes or shallow trays, with the eyes facing upwards. These small buds are where the shoots develop. Label the variety if you are preparing several batches so that you can keep them separate.
Keep the potatoes somewhere cool, bright and frost-free. They do not need soaking or watering at this stage. Light encourages short, sturdy shoots rather than long, pale and fragile growth.
Check the tubers regularly and remove any that deteriorate. Once they have strong shoots and planting conditions are suitable, move and handle them gently to avoid breaking the sprouts. Chitting prepares the seed potatoes for planting; it does not replace the fertile soil needed for the crop to grow afterwards.
How do you plant Ratte potatoes?
How to care for this plant
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Earth up plants
Wait until shoots are about 20–25 cm tall before gradually earthing up. Leave the shoot tips exposed and keep tubers covered.
How do you harvest Ratte potatoes?
