Chitting means placing seed potatoes in a cool, light spot (like an egg box on a windowsill) to develop short, sturdy shoots before planting. This gives them a head start.

When should I start chitting?

Start chitting 4-6 weeks before planting. For earlies, that means late January to early February. For maincrops, start in late February to March.

How many seed potatoes in a kg?

Roughly 10-12 medium seed potatoes per kg, or about 16 small ones. The calculator assumes an average of 60g per tuber.

How deep should I plant potatoes?

Plant seed potatoes 10-15cm deep with shoots facing upward. Earth up (mound soil around stems) as they grow to prevent greening.

What is chitting and why is it important?

Chitting means sprouting seed potatoes in a cool, light place for 4-6 weeks before planting. It gives them a head start, leading to earlier and often heavier harvests.

GardenCalcs

Potato Chitting Calculator — Seed Potatoes & Timing

Calculate seed potato quantities, spacing, and chitting times.

Row Length

Number of Rows

Variety Type

Price per kg seed potatoes (optional)

How We Calculate This

Tubers per row = Row length / Spacing. Total tubers = Tubers per row x Number of rows.

Seed potato weight assumes an average of 60g per tuber. Yield estimates are based on typical UK conditions.

Earlies: 30cm spacing, 45cm between rows. Second earlies: 38cm / 60cm. Maincrops: 38cm / 75cm.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.