Planting Tips
Planting Date: The ideal planting window is between late April and late May in regards to yield potential. A good peanut crop can be grown outside of this planting window, although the risk of reduced yield is greater because of weather and risk of disease problems. Please keep these points in mind before and as you plant:
Planter Maintenance – Clean seed tubes, metering units, vacuum system, inoculant tubes, insecticide hoppers and tubes.
– Calibrate liquid and dry applicators (inoculant, insecticide, herbicide, etc.)
– Check and replace worn parts that may affect seed placement.
– Make sure seed meters are applying correct amount of seed.
Soil Temperature — The average daily soil temperature at the 4” depth should be greater than 68 Degrees F for 3 consecutive days without risk of a cold front after planting
Tractor/Planter Speed – Plant at appropriate speeds to allow for more precise placement of seed. As speed increases, planter efficiency and number of seed dropped in the furrow both decrease. This leads to increased gaps between plants which increases TSWV risk,especially if you plant before May 10.
Seeding Rate – To reduce the impact of TSWV, growers need to plant enough seed to provide at least 4 plants/ft of row. Therefore, seeding rates of 6 seed/ft on singles and 6 to 7 combined seed/ft on twins (3 to 3.5 seed/ft per twin furrow) are recommended.
Seeding rates also need to be adjusted for % germ of the seed being planted to ensure you have the desired plant population.
Seed Depth – Check your planter in each field for adequate down pressure to ensure ideal planting depth. Seed depth is typically 2.0 to 2.5” deep. You can plant shallower with good moisture but risk losing moisture before germination, and injury from Valor herbicide is increased. Peanut can emerge from depths up to 3” as long as the seed has good germ and vigor, but deep planting can cause delayed emergence and subject the seedling to greater risk of soilborne pathogens causing rot before it emerges.
Soil Moisture –Planting peanut in subpar moisture can result in poor germination and erratic emergence causing less than optimum plant population and increased risk of TSWV.
Peanut seed is too expensive to risk planting in dry conditions
Irrigated fields –planting in dry and hot conditions followed by irrigation with cold water can shock the seed and cause erratic emergence. Irrigate 1/3 to 1/2” and then plant.
Pre-plant Herbicides and Irrigation –water pre-plant/at-plant herbicides into the soil before peanut emerge to improve weed control.
TSWV Risk – To reduce TSWV risk on peanut – plant after May 10, apply phorate for thrips control,and use twin row configuration (see Peanut Rx Disease Risk Index).
Inoculants – apply inoculants in fields that have been out of peanut for more than 5 years. However, it’s a good practice to apply inoculants each year, especially following years of extreme weather like prolonged hot and/or dry periods or extended water-logged soils.
Peanut Diseases!! Expect disease in 2025! Peanut rook-knot nematode and lesion could be potential problems in many fields! USE PEANUT RX
