Would you want to know when to harvest peanuts?
It takes a long time to grow peanuts, so you will need to know when they are ready to be picked.
Peanuts grown at home can usually be picked from late summer to early fall. But it depends on the type you plant and when you plant it, just like with any other food. There are four main types of peanuts, and it takes them anywhere from 90 to 165 days to grow.
The way I’ve seen it, peanut gathering is a little different from what you might think. These interesting plants are legumes, which are related to beans and peas, but their pods grow underground.
Growing peanuts is a lot of fun because of their unique habit, but picking them is hard because you can’t see how the pods are growing under the ground.
To avoid guessing when picking peanuts, use this easy guide to find out how and when to select them for the best taste and freshness.
Now, let’s get started.
How to Tell If Peanuts Are Ready to Harvest
Guidelines for harvesting are included in seed packs. However, weather and temperature variations can significantly impact peanut development and harvest dates. For this reason, you should search for more indicators that your peanut crop has developed.
The plant’s leaves will start to wither and turn yellow when the peanuts are ready to be harvested; these are obvious indicators that it’s time to start digging up the plants.
Underripe pods have tiny seeds, whereas mature pods should be fully packed with huge seeds that occupy the majority of the pod.
The peanuts are probably too ripe to boil if the inside of the pod is black, but they’re still great dry-roasted.
Dig up all the peanut plants right away if the pods begin to separate from the plant’s roots in order to prevent losing the peanuts in the ground.
How are Peanuts Harvested
After you determine when to harvest peanuts, you must respond to the query, “How are peanuts harvested?” Before harvesting peanuts:
Loosen up the soil around the plants with a yard fork or spade.
While the pods are still connected, pull up the plants and brush off any extra dirt from the roots.
Verify that no pods are being left behind by looking at the soil.
It takes three or four weeks for peanuts to dry before you can prepare and store them. Keep the plants out of direct sunlight and hang them somewhere warm and dry. Once the two weeks have passed, remove the pods from the roots by brushing off any remaining dirt. Spread them out on a level surface in a single layer and let them dry for another week or two. Mold is encouraged by high humidity during the drying process.
How do I actually harvest them
1. Examine the wear and tear on your equipment. Go to Agri Supply for replacement components; their staff is polite and helpful.
2. If you are harvesting at home, use a garden fork to loosen the dirt surrounding the pods and carefully take them out by their roots. Utilize a peanut digger lifter on the farm to remove them from the ground. (Look for any pods that could be misplaced.)
3. Shake out extra dirt from the pods by hand or with a shaker bar.
4. For two weeks, hang the entire plant by its roots in a warm, dry location away from the sun.
5. Give them a thorough cleaning. Take the roots apart from the pods. For a further two weeks, keep them somewhere dry in a single layer. (Controlling humidity is crucial as mold grows in humid environments.)
What are the Types of Peanuts and Their Harvest Timelines
Their type determines the timeframe for harvesting peanuts: either bunch-type or runner-type. Runner-type peanuts need more room to grow since they are vine-growing. It usually takes them 130 to 150 days to reach adulthood.
Nuts on bunch-type peanuts are grown at the tips of their branches. Farmers do not usually plant them since their yield is not as great as that of runner-type peanuts. However, bunch-type peanuts typically take at least 120 days to mature for those that grow them.
What Equipment is Used to Harvest Peanuts
For the adaptable tractors that they require to power their peanut harvest, a great number of agricultural farmers turn to John Deere and purchase them.
The fact that John Deere manufactures a variety of row crop tractors that are suitable for attaching your peanut harvesting equipment throughout their 6-, 7-, and 8-series tractor lineups guarantees that you will be able to locate at least one model that is suitable for your peanut harvest this year.
What are the signs that show your peanuts are ready to harvest
It’s generally accepted that you should harvest peanuts when around 75% of them are ready to be eaten. However, how are you supposed to know?
There are a few methods, such as examining the internal walls of the pods and the color of the seeds.
Color of the Inner Pod Walls: You may observe that the inner layer of peanut pods varies in color from white to black when you scrape them with a knife. The dark hue denotes maturity.
In case you were wondering, the color of the peanut seeds is revealed when we consume the legumes. The first thing you plant is raw, fresh peanuts.
Young peanut seeds are white in hue. As each peanut seed ages, it progressively turns a pale pink hue. When it is ripe, it will likewise fill the entire pod.
Color and Condition of the Leaves: The plants’ leaves begin to shrivel up and turn yellow.
Final thought
Now that we have established when to harvest peanuts, this brief advice explains how to determine when it’s time to harvest your peanut crop.
We also go over the fundamental steps you must take, such as deciding when your peanuts are ready, selecting them, and storing them.
You may anticipate boiling or roasting the results of your effort if you choose to give peanut cultivation a go. Have fun!
