How to grow Peanut?
- Latin Family: Fabaceae
- Latin Genus: Arachis
- Ease of Growing: Moderate
- Growing Type: Annual
This South American plant likes a hot growing season. However, it is fairly hardy and can be grown in cooler Northern areas. The seeds are produced underground in the familiar leathery seedpods and are not really nuts.
Peanut History
Also known as Goobers, the Peanut is native to South America and has been cultivated for over 5000 years. From there, they were carried to Africa and ultimately to America aboard slave ships. By the 1700's, peanuts were grown commercially in the South. After the Civil War, Union troops carried the tasty nuts home. It is an important crop in India, China, West Africa, and the United States.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 6.0 - 6.5
- PH Ideal (min/max): 5.5 - 7.0
Light well-drained soil is good for Peanuts. They don't like heavy or compacted soils (maybe the flowers can't penetrate them easily). If you are planting Peanuts in heavy soil, work in enough organic matter to create a looser structure and ensure proper drainage.
How to care for Peanut?
Peanuts are fairly easy to grow if you have the right conditions. They prefer warm climates, and can tolerate quite dry soil until they begin to bloom. Before planting dig a hole, and if the ground is moist 1' into the ground then you won't have to water until they begin to bloom.
Water
Water is most critical from the time the flowers appear until harvest. Water regularly during this period to keep the soil moist. Peanuts don't like wet leaves as it can contribute to disease so use drip irrigation, or water near the soil.
Fertilizer
The soil doesn't need to be very rich in nitrogen as the plant plays host to nitrogen fixing bacteria, but it should contain plenty of calcium. Soil amended with compost and organic matter will provide the Peanut with all the nutrition it requires.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 4 Years
The plants are mostly self pollinating, so this is just the same as harvesting the seeds for eating. Make sure they are properly dry before storing, or they may go moldy. Save the seed from at least 5 plants to ensure sufficient genetic variation.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Peanuts require full sun.
Conditions:Warm, Hot
Season:Long Season
Storage
Hang whole plants in a warm dry location for 2 months to allow the pods to dry thoroughly. It is very important that they be out of reach of rodents, otherwise there won't be a single seed left (Mice love peanuts). After the plants have dried, store in a cool, dry place.
Storage Req: Dry, Drying, Warm
Storage Temp: 60-75°F
Storage Length: 60-360 days
Problems
Peanut Types
- Spanish
- Virginia
- Valencia
This type of peanut has a bush habit and doesn't usually need any extra support. The nuts are round and a bit smaller than other peanuts. They usually mature in about 110 days or so and they are very drought tolerant. These are the peanuts commercially grown in the Southwest.
The Virginia type has the largest seed and the highest overall yield of the four peanut types; the seed is most often roasted. There are commonly two and sometimes three seeds per pod. Virginia type peanuts are mostly grown from Southeastern Virginia into Northeastern North Carolina. It's the most versatile peanut type, but requires more time to mature than Valencia peanuts.
The Valencia Peanut has 3 to 6 small, oval seeds crowded into each pod. Each seed is covered with a bright-red skin, and are often roasted in-the-shell or boiled fresh. Valencia Peanuts are a good option for areas with a fewer number of frost free days. They are mostly grown in New Mexico.
Pests
- Aphids
- Armyworms
- Corn Earworm
- Cutworms
- Thrips
- Wireworm
Diseases
- White Mold
- Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)
- Damping Off
- Black Rot
