Peanut Harvesting 101: All you need to know
So you’ve planted your first peanuts and are ready to harvest.
First, you have to get the harvest right. When you get to work depends on how you intend to prepare your peanuts.
Did you know?
… Two American presidents have also been peanut farmers: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
Determine how you will cook your peanuts.
You can reap peanuts after 90-110 days if you’re going to boil them. However, if you want to roast them, wait 130-150 days after planting.
How will I know the peanuts are ready for harvest?
Has their foliage yellowed, or died off? This indicates peanuts are ready. But open a pod before you harvest the lot. Peanuts should fill most of the pod. If they don’t, they’re not ready.
How do I actually harvest them?
1. Check your equipment for wear and tear. If you need replacement parts, turn to the friendly folks at Agri Supply.
2. If you’re harvesting at home, loosen up the soil around your pods with a garden fork and gently lift them out by roots. On the farm, use a peanut digger lifter to extract them from the soil. (Check for pods that could get left behind.)
3. Use a shaker bar to rid pods of excess soil or gently shake them out by hand.
4. Hang the entire plant with roots for two weeks in a warm, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
5. Clean them carefully. Separate roots from the pods. Place them in a single layer, somewhere dry, for another two weeks. (Humidity control is important: Humid conditions foster mold growth.)
Did you know?
… a National Peanut Board study examined creamy and crunchy peanut butter popularity. It revealed people on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter. West Coast residents liked crunchy peanut butter best.
How do I store my peanuts?
Pick a spot with good ventilation, and keep peanuts in mesh bags. They’ll be fine for several months if you’ve dried them correctly and kept them away from mice.
How do I roast peanuts?
Place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re ready in 13 to 18 minutes, depending on how well they were dried. Put them in air-tight containers, or, to keep them longer than a couple of months, refrigerate them. They’ll be good for as long as a year then.
How do I boil peanuts?
Place peanuts in just enough water to cover them for three hours, and add kosher salt. Stir them occasionally. You might have to add water. Serve them while they’re still warm.
Did you know?
NASA engineers consider peanuts to be a good luck charm? Since 1964, they’ve distributed jars of peanuts before every Jet Propulsion Laboratory mission. After that first one was a success, the tradition was born.
Visit Agri Supply for all your harvesting needs
Thinking of taking on peanut harvest season without Agri Supply? That’s just nuts! We carry an array of products to help you have the best harvest possible. (And we also offer peanut-themed items such as bird suet for your feeders.) See us for all your needs. Compare and save!