Using the Peanut Pod-Blasting
Method to Determine Peanut
Maturity
Each year approximately 160,000 acres of peanuts are planted in Florida. There are over
70,000 acres of peanuts produced annually in
the Suwannee Valley Area.
Determining when to harvest peanuts is an
important decision each peanut producer will
have to face.
Peanut pod-blasting is the method most com-
Hamilton County Extension
monly used by producers and extension agents
Keith Wynn
to determine the peanuts maturity. A maturity
1143 U.S. Hwy. 41 NW
board which is available at most extension
Jasper, FL 32053
offices and a pressure washer is the only
Phone: 386-792-1276
materials needed to pod-blast peanuts.
Fax: 386-792-6446
Email: [email protected]
Using Peanut
Pod-Blasting to Check
Peanut Maturity
UF/IFAS Hamilton County Extension
Steps Used to Successfully
Pod-Blast Peanuts
Step Three:
A basket to hold the pods for blasting can be
made from 1/4 inch hardware cloth. It can then
be placed in a five gallon bucket in order to con-
Step One:
tain the water when the peanuts are pressure
Most peanut producers begin sampling
their fields for peanut maturity when they
reach 100 to 120 days of age. In order to
receive a random sample, five to six
plants are collected throughout the sample area. Every peanut pod should be
picked off of each plant in order to collect
150-200 pods which will provide an adequate sample. Some producers will blast
two or three samples per field.
washed. Make sure to drill a couple of holes in
the bottom of the bucket to allow the water to
drain out.
Conclusion:
Step Two:
Extension agents and peanut producers normally use a pressure
washer with a rotating turbo nozzle
to pod-blast peanuts. This procedure removes the exocarp from the
peanuts in order to reveal the peanuts mesocarp color.
Determining peanut maturity is important
when considering when to invert peanuts.
Over mature peanuts can lead to mechanical
losses at harvest and immature peanuts can
Step Three:
This is the most challenging step of the podblasting method. A maturity board is used to
determine maturity by placing peanuts in different color class columns based on the color of
the peanuts mesocarp. Color separation can be
highly susceptible to an individual’s ability to
determine which color column pods should be
placed in. The individual placing the pods in the
columns will only gain the knowledge to properly place the pods through experience.
lead to a lower grade and yield. Peanut pod
blasting to check for maturity is an important tool used to consider when a pro-
ducer should start inverting their peanuts.
However, the producer should also consider
the plant’s health, the plant’s age, and upcoming weather events such as hurricanes
or frontal storms which could interfere with
harvest.