the essentials in brief
- The 30 to 80 cm tall peanut plant is a legume from South America with herbaceous growth, yellow butterfly flowers from May to August and earthy seeds in autumn.
- Growing peanut plants yourself is best done in a pot or in a bed after growing them on the windowsill.
- Care tips: water sparingly, organically fertilize, do not clean butterfly blossoms, not soil after planting mulch.
- Known peanut varieties for sowing and Consumption: Jimmy's Pride, Runner, Virginias, Spanish and Red Tennessee Valencia.
Characteristics
- Scientific name: Arachis hypogaea
- Family: legumes
- Origin: South America
- Growth: annual, herbaceous, bushy
- Flower shape: butterfly flowers
- Fruit: legume
- Root: taproot
- Location: sunny
- Soil: loose sandy
- Harvest time: July to September
- Hardiness: not hardy
- Usage: roasted peanuts, peanut oil
origin
The genus peanuts (Arachis) includes 80 species, of which the cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) has achieved worldwide fame. The legume species are all native to South America. Thanks to its tasty seeds and high value as an oil fruit, the peanut plant is now cultivated in almost all tropical and subtropical regions. Crunchy, roasted peanuts and healthy peanut oil from the supermarket mostly come from Florida, as the following video demonstrates.
also read
- How to harvest homegrown peanuts
- The peanut is a legume
- The seed of the peanut is not a nut but a kernel
From the peanut plant to the crunchy nut
growth
Annual, herbaceous growth characterizes the peanut plant. The dense, bushy foliage, the numerous flowers and legumes are supplied by a taproot that is up to 50 cm deep. Stems and side shoots grow upright, semi-erect to creeping and are 30 to 80 centimeters long. Even before the beginning of the flowering period, decorative, alternate leaves sprout. These consist of a petiole up to 10 centimeters long and distinctive, paired pinnate leaves with a short stalk.
blossom
From May to August, the peanut plant unfolds golden butterfly flowers. A hermaphrodite peanut blossom is only open for a few hours. There is no time to wait days for pollinators. Because of this, peanut flowers simply self-pollinate. The result is an exuberant floral display of several hundred buds that open one after another over the course of the flowering period. The failure rate is high. Typically, only 20 percent of fertilized flowers actually turn into peanuts.
digression
Geocarpy – This is how the peanut gets into the ground
fruit
The name peanut plant refers to the growth of legumes in the soil. A fruit is two to six centimeters long and contains one to four slightly constricted seeds. Unlike other legumes, the pods of a peanut plant do not open on their own. Rather, the pericarp gradually lignifies and becomes a closed fruit, as we know it from real nuts. Ripe seeds are rich in healthy minerals and vitamins. A high energy value turns peanuts into calorie bombs, as the following table shows:
| Peanuts energy value | Calories per 100g | kilojoules per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| raw seeds | 564 calories | 2341kJ |
| dry roasted | 589 calories | 2441kJ |
| roasted and salted | 602 calories | 2491kJ |
| peanut butter | 623 calories | 2581kJ |
| peanut oil | 899 calories | 3898kJ |
Growing a peanut plant yourself – instructions
For high-yield growth, the peanut plant needs a frost-free vegetation period of 160 to 180 days between sowing and ripening. Direct sowing in the garden is doomed to fail in the Central European climate. Cultivation behind glass improves the chances of success. Hobby gardeners in mild regions plant early young plants in the bed after the ice saints. Cultivation in a pot is more effective. The following instructions illuminate all important aspects. How to grow a peanut plant yourself:
Cultivation on the windowsill
In February, the time window for cultivation on the windowsill opens. The following overview explains the general conditions for successful sowing of peanut plants:
- Seed: untreated, unpeeled peanut kernels
- Preparation: Soak in lukewarm chamomile tea for 24 hours
- Substrate: mix off coconut soil and herbal soil (1:1)
- Seed Pot: 10 cm nursery pot or seed tray
- Sow: press the peanut seeds 1 cm deep into the soil, sieve over a thin layer of sand, pour in a fine spray
- Hood: put perforated plastic bag over it
- Germination: at 25° Celsius in a bright window seat within a week
- Important: Air the hood daily, remove after germination
- Prick out: repot in prick out soil after 5 to 6 weeks
Pricked peanut seedlings benefit from a hardening period. Place the repotted young plants in a semi-shady, sheltered place in the garden, on the balcony or terrace on warm spring days from mid/end of April. Your pupils continue to spend the cool nights behind glass.
planting
The planting season for peanut plants begins in mid-May. Choose a full sun, warm and wind-protected location with well-drained, sandy-loose soil garden floor. A planting distance of 25 x 25 centimeters has proven itself in practice.
We recommend planting in pots so that Central European weather conditions do not torpedo the cultivation of peanuts. Please use a large container that offers enough space for the deep, pole-like roots. Choose organically pre-fertilized vegetable or herbal soil as a substrate. Waterlogging is avoided with a drainage system lava granules. When planting in beds and pots, it is important not to use a layer of mulch so that the fruit bearers can dig into the ground unhindered.
Caring for peanut plants – tips & tricks
In cultivation, the peanut plant surprises with good-natured frugality. The following tips & tricks will show you how to properly care for peanuts in pots and beds:
- Pour: water sparingly, avoid waterlogging
- Fertilize: give organic liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks
- pile up: pile up peanut plant after completed geocarpy (fruit bearers are in the ground)
- To cut: Do not clean peanut blossoms, do not cut shoots
Once the ovary has arrived safely in the soil, mulch the bed or substrate thinly with leaves to protect the ripening peanuts from too much moisture.
Popular Varieties
Various varieties have emerged from the cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) with specific Properties that interested hobby gardeners can find in specialist shops as fresh, not roasted seeds for the sowing can acquire:
- Jimmy's Pride: certified seed of Arachis hypogaea from Sperli-Samen.
- runner: one of the most widely grown peanut varieties with extra large seeds.
- Virginias: Peanut variety with the largest kernels in the world, popular as roasted canned peanuts.
- Spanish: small, tasty kernels in a yellow-brown seed coat, ideal for extracting peanut oil.
- Red Tennessee Valencia: small, sweet seeds, perfect as a snack or baking ingredient.
FAQ
Is the peanut a nut?
This question is controversial. Botanically, the peanut plant is a legume with edible seeds. According to the definition, the pod is of course an opening fruit, as you know it from peas or beans. This is not the case for the pods of a peanut plant because they grow as a woody indeciduous crop and do not release the seeds. From a morphological point of view, this circumstance makes the peanut a real nut, like the walnut.
Roast peanuts. How does it work?
The easiest way is to roast peanuts in the oven. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 150°. Roast the seeds on the middle rack for about 60 minutes. Turn the kernels regularly for even browning. Alternatively, you can roast peanuts yourself in a coated pan within 20 minutes.
I am allergic to nuts. Do I have to avoid the peanut as a legume?
Botanists define the peanut as a legume. For this reason, an allergy to tree nuts does not necessarily mean an allergy to peanuts. However, caution is advised, because an allergic reaction cannot be completely ruled out. Many allergy sufferers suffer from multiple food allergies. Please consult your family doctor.
Can you still eat peanuts with mold?
no Please throw away any moldy peanuts. The mold Aspergillus flavus does not remain on the seed surface but penetrates the infected one Peanut and produces toxins there, which can cause severe symptoms of poisoning after consumption cause.
What health effects do peanuts have?
Nutritionists attest peanuts numerous positive effects on health. Anyone who enjoys the fatty, high-calorie kernels in moderation can look forward to a natural prevention of heart and Circulatory diseases, a balanced cholesterol level, protection against premature skin aging, strong bones and good Mood. This is provided that you are not allergic to peanuts.
What nutrients are in peanuts?
Peanuts are packed with valuable nutrients. Per 100 grams of raw peanuts (not roasted, unsalted) contain: 24 g protein, 8 g fiber, 658 mg potassium, 176 mg magnesium, 10 mg vitamin E. However, 50 g fat and 8 g carbohydrates make the peanuts a calorie bomb with a whopping 564 kcal or 2341 kJ.
Are roasted peanuts suitable for sowing?
No, roasted peanuts have lost their ability to germinate. When growing a peanut plant, use raw, untreated, and unpeeled peanut seeds. Only the lignified seed coat will be removed. Germinating seed is available from specialist retailers, for example from Sperli-Samen, Saflax, Dehner, Deaflora or Amazon.
How are peanuts harvested?
The peanuts are ready to be harvested when the leaves of a peanut plant turn yellow and wilt. Lift the plant with a digging fork out of the ground and shake off the earth. Hang the pods to dry in a warm, rain-protected place for 14 days before opening the woody seed coats.
