Peanuts - when to dig

[Missy M]

I planted peanuts and I'm not sure when to dig. The instructions said 8 weeks after they bloom dig and check. Well I know it's been at least that long since they started to bloom, BUT they are still blooming. Will they keep growing and blooming and putting down pegs as long as they are in the ground? If so do you just reach a point where you dig them even though they are still going and there will be peanuts in the middle and nothing formed yet on the farthest pegs?

Any experience here is appreciated.

I know there are large peanuts in the middle and I'm getting excited.

[Randy Rooster]

I started pulling mine today - looks like a good crop for me this year - you should try one plant and see what you have - you dont want to wait too long or the nuts may rot or come off the runners

[walnutgrove]

I was very interested in seeing if there was an answer to this. The instructions on mine said it takes 5 months. Impatiently I dig a small hole a week ago just to see how they were doing and they werent ready. They were the right size, about 1 1/2" - 2", but when I broke it open I could see they definitely were not done. Another few weeks and they should be ready. If it helps mine bloomed at the beginning (about 6 weeks) but then the blooms fell off and they grew 4 times the size. I'm thinking they will probably bloom again when they are ready. We'll see.

[Paquebot]

I'm going to wait until the last minute here. That is, just before or after our first hard frost. They are still growing.

(Just made a note to myself to pull up a plant tomorrow when I'm in the field and report findings here.)

Martin

[oneokie]

Here is an article with basic information on when to harvest peanuts. http://www.bensoninstitute.org/Publi...Harvesting.asp

One can also search the websites of various state agricultural colleges for this information. Suggested states to search are GA, TX, OK, and NM. All are historic peanut producing states. OSU at one time had a fact sheet with color plates showing the various stages of maturity.

Your local extension service is another good place to ask for information.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Around here the plants will start turning yellow when the peanuts are mature.They will still blossom a little right up to frost,but they should be dug once yellowing begins,thats when most of them are ready.If you wait, the mature nuts will start to rot right after yellowing.

[motdaugrnds]

We grew peanuts the 3rd year we were on this place; and discovered they were just right for harvesting when the plants started turning yellow.

I will be planting some more soon, along with some edible green soybeans (the latter being difficult to find at the moment).

[bak2tn]

Scrape the outside of shell with thumbnail. If it's dark at the scrape site it is ready. I got this info from Clemson University. They recommend that when 60 percent of the peanuts on the sampled plant are dark, harvest the crop. This hasn't always corresponded with the leaves yellowing so check a plant every couple days once you think the crop has been in the ground for sufficient days depending on your variety. Mine are getting pulled tomorrow.

[Paquebot]

Pulled 3 plants today. Considering the lack of water during important growth periods, there's some real nice peanuts. But, there are almost as many immature ones. As it turned out, they didn't get the best choice of soil in the garden and will be given richer ground next year.

Martin

[Randy Rooster]

Ive been told by old timers arouund here that the sandier soil the better for peanuts and our historic drought this summer didnt seem to hurt mine a bit.

[SueMc]

I was glad to see this post as this is the first year that I've tried to grow peanuts. I took Martin's lead and pulled a plant. I secretly suspected that there would be nothing underneath!

[walnutgrove]

Pulled mine today too. 5 1/2 months after planting seed. FINALLY done !! My 2 year old thought it was great fun to help me harvest them.