Here are few tips for the upcoming peanut season
- Growers should ask what the Germination % is on every lot they purchase.
- Bought seed should be 75% germination or above. Farmer saved seed may be in any range. Please make sure to take a sample and submit to the department of AG to determine germination. You might want to treat with Rancona seed treatment to reduce issues with aspergillus flavus and aspergillus niger.
- For best management of marginal quality peanut seed plant at optimal conditions (soil temp over 68 degrees and good moisture). Do not plant seed with marginal seed quality more than 2.5 inches deep.
- If you have multiple seed lots and numerous totes use the ones with the best germination earlier in the season when soils are not quite as warm.
- This is not the year to chase soil moisture!
- Seed at 85% germination or above: plant at normal rates.
- High 70’s to low 80’s: increase seeding rate 1-2 seed per foot.
- Seed below 75% germination the outcome may not be very good if you do everything right.
- You have more flexibility with twin-row plantings to bump up the seeding rate. With lower germination- increasing seeding rate can be the way to compensate BUT if you stack too many seed on top of one another you can get the opposite result. Placing seeds on top of one another or touching in the furrow can increase the potential for seed rot.
- It’s best not to go over 8 to 8.5 seeds per foot on twin rows and not over 7.5 seed per foot on single rows. It is hard to plant more than 6 seed per foot with a single row planter with a large editable bean plate. You may need to use a Virginia peanut plate.
- Consider slowing down your planting speed.
- Use an in-furrow inoculant.