PEANUTS
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A
popular legume (it’s not actually a nut!), the peanut is relatively easy to grow and has ties to the famous Missourian and scientist/researcher, George Washington Carver. Peanuts were not readily used for human consumption until the late 19th century. Through his research, Carver found multiple practical uses for everyday products and food recipes all derived f r o m peanuts.
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By Mara HiGdon
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To grow peanuts Tennessee yourself, pick up s o m e peanuts at Red Valencia your local hardware store or garden store (NOT roasted nuts from the grocery). They should still be in their shells when you buy them. When you are ready to plant, then shell the peanuts. Peanuts need sandy, loamy soil with regular watering. Pick a sunny location and wait until the last frost has passed to plant. To prepare the soil, dig down about 8-10 inches to loosen up the soil. Plant a trio of peanuts a few inches apart. Plant each trio 10-12 inches apart from other trios. Peanuts send out flowered runners that will wilt and then burrow down into the soil. They are then called pegs. The ends of the pegs will be where the peanuts form and grow. Be careful when weeding the area as you don’t want to disturb the pegs or the formation of the peanuts below. Peanuts reach maturity at 100 to 130 days depending on the variety. For our zone, try a short maturity variety of peanut - Valencia. Be sure to harvest before the first frost as peanuts are very sensitive to cold. Pull out the whole plant when the plant completely wilts and turns yellow. Each plant should yield 30-60 peanuts. Peanut plants should be hung in a dry warm spot for 2 weeks. At this point you can remove the peanut shells from the plant, but let them cure for another couple of weeks. Do not wash them, ever! Once cured, peanuts can be eaten or stored in a dry, dark place. Mara Higdon is the Program Director photo courtesy at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus Southern Exposure on community development through Seed Exchange at gardening throughout the St. Louis SouthernExposure. area. You can reach her at (314) 588-9600 x22 or by email at mara@ com. gatewaygreening.org. The Gateway Gardener®
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013