Maturity charts for Virginia market type varieties can also be used for runner market types and Valencia market types. The key is the color of the pods (exposed mesocarp) in terms of deciding when to dig. The Virginia charts show about 65% of pods in the brown and black categories as the trigger for saying peanuts are at optimum maturity. This can be pushed toward a higher percentage for runner market types and also Valencia market types. The reason is that runner market types tend to shed less when they reach optimum maturity than a Virginia market types. In my view, you could push the runner market types to 75% in the combined brown and black categories to trigger digging. I have very limited experience with Valencia market types. However, they shed less than Virginia market types do when plants are healthy.

I would treat Valencia market types like I treat runner market types (75% in brown and black categories combined.) The caveat is that vines for Valencia market types can deteriorate quickly, both prior to digging and after the vines are on top of the ground waiting to be picked. Valencia market types do not have dormancy like Virginia and runner market types, so it is possible that some if not most of the seed will sprout if we get wet weather. We can't afford to wait too late to dig and harvest Valencia market types if tropical weather is expected. In general, Valencia market types will reach optimum maturity about 2-3 weeks sooner than a Virginia or runner market types.

If you have Valencia market types in your operation, check maturity early next week (week of August 28.)