The peanut is a great plant that feeds the world and produces many useful
products. Without a doubt, peanuts are a favorite locally and are
consumed "green" or roasted. Peanuts are also often part of
wild bird seed mixes. The peanut plant itself is fascinating to both
youth and adults with above ground flowers that eventually form underground
nuts. Home grown peanuts are worth a space in your garden this year.
Select a piece of your garden that is in full sun,
well-drained and has not had peanuts planted in least two years. While a
soil test is always a good idea, a pH of 6.0 and generally average fertility
will perform best. It is noted that peanuts do well on residual fertility if
the crop before was well-fertilized. As peanuts are legumes, they will use
nitrogen fixing bacteria to obtain nitrogen. This bacterium is usually
common in most soils or can be added as a commercially available
inoculant. The seed should be planted in late winter to early spring once
the danger of frost is over. Plant the seed two to three inches deep, and two
to four inches apart in rows twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart.
Interestingly enough, there are four different types of
peanuts that can be grown in the home garden. Valencia peanuts are
commonly used as they are early (75-85 days) and have three to four kernels per
pod. 'Tennessee Red', 'New Mexico A', 'New Mexico C', 'Georgia Red', and
'McRan' are good-tasting Valencia types. Virginia type peanuts are good
for boiling and roasting. They are large in size; require a longer time
to mature than Valencia types - up to one hundred and fifty days!
Suitable varieties include NC 7, NC9, and NC-V 11. Spanish peanuts such
as 'Pronto' and 'Spanco' are small-seeded, mature early, and are especially
suitable to roasting. A final variety, runners, produces high yields and
includes varieties such as 'Georgia Runner' and 'Georgia Green'.
Shallow cultivation will help keep out weeds while they are
small without damaging the nuts. Peanuts will flower over a long period
of time and continue to set nuts. Experience will tell you when is the
best time for harvesting based on your need for green or dry nuts and standard
maturity dates. Green nuts can be harvested by hand, washed, and are
ready to boil. Dry nuts for roasting should have seventy-five percent of
the hulls with a dark interior surface before picking. These nuts are
allowed to dry in the sun for a few days. Dried to ten percent or less
moisture, the nuts are then ready to be stored in a cool dry place until
used. Watch for mold and/or rots by occasionally inspecting the
nuts. Use within a few months before the flavor and taste declines.
Grow some of these interesting plants in your garden this
year and enjoy the nutty snacks to come! For more information on plants
to grow or to eat, please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant
Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for
gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer.
Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area. Please check
this link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.
Resource: Whitty, E. B. (2001) Producing Peanuts for
Home Use, The University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS.
