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Peanuts are an annual legume native to South America. It is cultivated in the USA, China, India and other countries around the globe. You can grow peanuts in the climate. When growing, it is important to follow the planting technology and ensure good care.
Peanut growing technology
Peanut is a plant with a height of 25 – 70 cm. The root is branched, it penetrates to a depth of 1,5 m. In girth, the root system takes up to 1,5 m. Therefore, the plant is resistant to drought. In nature, it prefers a humid and warm climate.
Peanuts produce yellow-orange flowers. The flowering period lasts only 12 hours. After pollination, the ovary descends to the ground. About 2000 flowers appear on one plant. The number of fruits is from 30 to 80. Peanuts ripen in the ground, so it is called a peanut. The growing season is 120 to 160 days? depending on the variety.
Features of agricultural technology for growing peanuts:
- sunny place, no shady areas;
- the best temperature regime from +20 to +27 °С;
- constant circulation of air masses;
- chernozem or neutral soil;
- increased content of magnesium, calcium and humus in the soil;
- low salinity of the earth;
- temperature regime for seeds and seedlings;
- high soil moisture when flowers and ovaries appear;
- lack of stagnant water in the soil;
- hilling plants.
How to plant peanuts in the garden
To grow peanuts in the country, it is important to prepare the site and seeds for planting. In open ground, it is grown only in the southern regions. Be sure to comply with the deadlines for the work.
Terms of planting
Groundnut seeds germinate only in warm soil. The minimum temperature is from +12 to +15 °C. The best mode is from +25 to +30 °С. Spring frosts are detrimental to the plant. Therefore, it is important to choose a period when the soil warms up well and the cold passes.
Peanut planting begins in May or early June. In the forest-steppe zone, work is postponed to the second decade of May. When choosing dates, they are guided by the weather forecast. If frosts are coming, it is better to postpone planting. If the seeds have already been planted and cold snaps are expected, then at night the beds are covered with agrofiber or film.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Before you start growing peanuts, it is important to properly prepare the site. The plant develops well even on poor soils. When growing a crop, the earth is saturated with nitrogen. Therefore, peanuts are used to enrich depleted soil.
The best option is soils rich in humus and minerals. River sand and fertilizers are added to the clay soil. If the earth is sandy, then its composition is improved with the help of clay and compost. Peanuts do not tolerate saline or acidic soil. In such cases, liming is carried out.
Compliance with crop rotation will help to avoid diseases. It is not recommended to grow peanuts after beans, beans, peas and other legumes. If you break this rule, there is a high risk of root rot.
Site preparation begins in the fall. The soil is dug up and fertilized with humus. For 1 sq. m enough 1 – 3 kg. In the spring, the beds are loosened with pitchforks. In dry form, 40 g of Nitrofoska are applied per 1 sq. m.
Preparing peanut seeds for planting
Before planting, the seeds are processed. This will improve their germination and destroy pathogenic bacteria. Planting material is best purchased at gardening stores. The varieties Adyg, Bayan, Klinsky, Valencia, Stepnyak are suitable for the middle lane.
Only raw beans are used for cultivation. If the nuts have been cooked, then they will not be able to sprout. Seeds are evaluated visually: they should have a red skin. It is recommended to purchase shelled peanuts and remove them carefully before growing. Also on the surface there should be no traces of mold, decay, cracks. The best shoots give large nuts.
The procedure for preparing peanuts for cultivation:
- In order for peanuts to sprout, they are soaked for 5 hours in warm water. It is recommended to add a growth stimulator. Treatment in a solution of potassium permanganate will help to avoid the appearance of diseases.
- The liquid is drained.
- A damp cotton cloth is placed in a large basin.
- Spread peanuts on top.
- Seeds are covered with another piece of damp cloth.
- A day later, the halves of the nuts open and sprouts appear.
If the seeds do not germinate 3 days after treatment, then they are not used for planting. If the beans have sprouted, they can be immediately planted in the ground.
How to plant peanuts outdoors
Peanuts are planted in furrows with a depth of 10 cm. If it is planned to grow several rows, then a gap of 40 cm is made. Planting seeds according to the 60×60 cm pattern is allowed.
Planting order for peanuts:
- Furrows are watered with warm water.
- The beans are placed in the furrows. Leave at least 30 cm between plants.
- Seeds are sprinkled with a layer of earth 8 cm thick.
- Shoots will appear in 14 – 20 days.
Seeds should be protected from birds. To do this, use a grid or a scarecrow. Until shoots appear, cover the peanuts with a non-woven fabric.
How to grow peanuts in the garden
Proper planting and cultivation of peanuts will ensure a high yield. Plant care includes weeding the beds, applying moisture and fertilizer, hilling the bushes.
Weeding and loosening
A bed of peanuts is regularly weeded. Otherwise, weeds will grow and drown out the plantings. They also loosen the soil. This stage is especially important during the flowering period. The ovaries are formed in the ground. If the soil is too dense, then the flowers will not be able to penetrate deep and will die. Loosening is convenient to combine with weeding.
Watering and top dressing
Peanuts prefer moist soil. So that the water is better absorbed, loosen the soil after watering. On the beds do not allow the drying of the earth and the formation of a crust. For irrigation use warm settled water.
When flowering, peanuts are watered 1 – 2 times a week. It is best to choose morning or evening hours when there is no direct sun exposure. In addition, the plants are sprayed. When choosing an irrigation scheme, precipitation in the region is taken into account. In drought, plantings are watered by sprinkling. Water is poured on the roots and leaves, it is brought into the furrows between the rows.
During the season, it is enough to feed the peanuts 2 – 3 times. The first treatment is carried out when the shoots reach 10 cm in height. For processing, a solution is prepared containing 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 50 g of potassium sulfate and 60 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water. In the middle of years, only potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied.
Hilling
Hilling is a mandatory step in the care of peanuts. It is carried out when the ovaries begin to descend to the ground. The roots of the plant spud with loose and moist soil. An alternative option is to pour a substrate of humus, sand or sawdust on top.
Features of growing peanuts in different regions
Growing peanuts in central Our Country or Siberia has its own nuances. In general, agricultural technology is the same for all regions. When planting and caring for the local climate.
Growing peanuts in the suburbs
For growing peanuts in the Moscow region in the open field, planting dates are correctly selected. They wait until the middle or end of May, when the spring frosts pass. Sand and compost are first added to the soil. After planting, the beds are covered with a film. Otherwise, peanuts are provided with standard care: watering, fertilizing, hilling.
Growing peanuts in Siberia
For the successful cultivation of peanuts in Siberia, it is important to prepare the beds. The soil is dug up or fertilized. If return frosts often occur in the region, then the seeds are planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It is most convenient to place the bushes in a checkerboard pattern.
If weather conditions do not allow growing peanuts in the beds, then it is better to plant peanuts at home. Large plastic containers are chosen for it, where drainage holes are made. Plants are kept on the south side. The soil is regularly moistened.
Diseases and pests
During the growing process, peanuts can be seriously affected by fungal diseases. They usually develop in rainy weather. To save plantings, it is important to detect warning signs in time.
The following diseases are most dangerous for peanuts:
- Mučnistaâ rosa. The lesion has the appearance of a whitish coating that appears on the leaves. Gradually, the spots grow, and the foliage turns yellow and dries. Powdery mildew also covers stems and ovaries.
- Spotting. The disease is diagnosed by white brown spots on peanut leaves. Gradually, the tissues inside the lesion die off and holes form.
- Black spot. Develops in high humidity. Black spots up to 15 mm in size are formed along the edges of the leaves. As a result, the foliage dies off.
- Fusarium wilt. The disease leads to yellowing of the shoots, while the root system rots. The plant dies before harvest.
To avoid diseases, agricultural practices are observed when growing peanuts. It is important to process seeds before planting, observe crop rotation, and ration watering. When signs of illness appear, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of the drug Quadris, Skor or Topaz.
Peanuts attract aphids, caterpillars, thrips and other pests. Against them, a mixture of tobacco dust and wood ash is used. The most dangerous for the plant is the wireworm, which gnaws through the shell of the fruit and eats the nuts. To combat the wireworm, traps are set with bait in the form of carrots and potatoes.
Harvesting
Peanuts are harvested before the onset of cold weather. When the nuts are frozen, they lose their taste and become unfit for consumption. When the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, dig up several fruits. If the seeds are easy to clean, then start harvesting.
Usually the crop is harvested when the temperature is set at +10 °C. A dry day is chosen for work. Plants are dug up with a pitchfork or other garden tool.
The beans are collected in bunches and hung upside down. Peanuts are kept in a dry, ventilated area. Such nuts ripen well and contain a maximum of useful substances.
After 2 weeks, the fruits are cut off and washed with running water. The peanuts are then dried in heat. As a result, the shell becomes brittle, and the nuts acquire flavor. The harvested crop is kept in a dry and warm room. Beans are protected from direct sunlight and high humidity.
Tips from experienced gardeners
Conclusion
Even a novice gardener can grow peanuts. The plant is provided with certain conditions: fertile soil, processing of planting material, care for seedlings. Growing peanuts in different regions has its own characteristics. To get a good harvest, they follow the technology and take into account the experience of other gardeners.
