The Complete Guide to Seed and Nut Oils by Bevin Cohen

Author:Bevin Cohen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Society Publishers

Planting and Growing

Peanuts grow best in a long, warm season and will need anywhere from 120–150 days to mature. They prefer sandy soil, and need full sun for the best production. Peanuts for seed can be stored in their protective shells but will require shelling before being planted. Plant the seeds one to two inches (2.5–5 cm) deep and about six inches (15 cm) apart. Space rows two feet (0.6 m) apart or three feet (1 m) for runner types.

Around six to eight weeks after planting, the peanuts will begin to flower. The delicate yellow blossoms will appear near the bottom of the plant and, as they are pollinated, will send pegs down into the soil to begin pod development. The specific epithet, hypogaea, means “under the earth” in reference to how the plant forms its seeds underground. During this time, it’s crucial to provide regular watering, as exposure to extended dry periods during flowering will negatively affect yields.

As the peanuts mature, the leaves and stems will begin to yellow, signaling that harvest time has arrived. Mechanical harvesting is a two-step process that involves first driving a digger over the field to extract the plants. This machine pulls the plants from the ground and flips them upside down, exposing the peanuts to the air. After the peanuts sit in the field a few days to dry, a shaker is driven over the crop to remove the seeds from the plants. This technique can be simulated on a small scale by simply using a garden spade or fork to loosen the soil and then remove the plants from the ground. Be sure that the ground is dry and the upcoming weather forecast looks sunny and dry as well. The peanuts can be left in the field to cure, or if rain or frost is a concern, the plants can be moved to a sheltered area to finish drying. After two to three weeks, once the hulls are completely dry, the peanuts can easily be removed from the plants.

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