Is peanuts a nut or beans? How to grow peanuts?

Peanuts were grown by native Americans long before it was discovered by H. Columbus. In Europe, he was brought by Spanish conquistadors, after which he gained massive popularity. The term "peanut" has become firmly in use. Is he really so? What is peanuts - a nut or bean pods? Let's figure it out, and at the same time we'll learn how to grow it in our own garden, because it's quite real.

What is peanuts?

Under this name is united a whole genus of leguminous plants, which includes approximately 70 species. The origin of the word "peanut" probably has ancient Greek roots, translated "spider" and is associated with a mesh pattern on the fruit. The genus of these plants belongs to the family of legumes or butterflies, and their fruit, in turn, is called a bean or pod. It is single-caved, the seeds in it are arranged in a row. That's a full answer to the question about whether peanuts are a nut or bean pods. This is definitely a bean. At the moment, only one species is known outside South America - it is a peanut cultivated. The plant is actively cultivated throughout the world, in America, Asia, Europe. The maximum yield was achieved in Israel.

Peanut cultured (peanut): a description

This is an annual plant in height from 25 to 70 centimeters. The root system has a rod structure and is fairly branchy. Stalk of peanuts 4-5-faceted, pubescent or bare. The lateral branches, depending on the variety, can be erect (shrub forms) or creeping. The location of the leaves of the plant is regular, the length varies from 3 to 10 cm. They are parodermorous, entire, elongated and pointed. Stipulation fuses with the petiole. Flowers from peanuts can be yellow-red or white, collected in short inflorescences like brush.

Why is peanuts called peanuts?

On the dispute about what a peanut is - a nut or bean pods, the answer has already been given. But the question arises as to how they find themselves in the earth, if they are fruits. Peanuts are an amazing plant, and this fact confirms this. Flowering lasts for about a day only. After the fertilization takes place, the process of growth of the gynophore (outgrowth of the flower-budding) begins. It gradually lengthens and, together with the ovary, digs into the soil, where further development of the bean and its maturation takes place. The flowering of the same plant is quite long, begins in June and lasts until autumn. One plant can give up to 40 beans.

Is it possible to grow a peanut on my plot?

The question of how to grow peanuts, arises in villagers and truck farmers very often, because everyone wants to have something interesting on the site, if not exotic. Peas are known, loved and grown by many. So peanuts are his closest relative, he not only looks like him to him, but also agrotechnics is just as simple. The main requirement is a hot summer. Peanuts are very thermophilic, and if the temperature drops below +15, the growth practically stops. The decision on the expediency of planting should be taken in consideration of this factor. If the temperature drop is short-lived, the beds can be completely covered with a special material or film. It is easy to grow peanuts in the southern regions, it is also possible in the middle belt, but temporary shelter may be required, in the Urals and Siberia in conditions of open ground, it is a little difficult only if the summer is very hot, which can not be guaranteed.

Sometimes peanuts are grown at home, which is also quite acceptable. However, it is worth remembering that you will not get a big harvest at the same time. Seeds can be purchased at a specialized store or regular peanuts on the market, only it should be in the shell. Pot choose not very deep, but wide. Soil is best used for purchase, do not forget to fill the drainage layer on the bottom of the dishes.

Ground for peanuts

Representatives of the genus Peanut are legumes, and they all love light, fertile and well drained soils. There should be no stagnation of moisture in the ground. A place for peanuts choose sunny, in the shade it will not grow, the plant is very sunny.

You can plant a peanut when the soil warms up to at least 15 ° (not before the second half of May). On the prepared bed make holes 10 cm deep, place them in a staggered order at a distance of 30-50 cm. Between the rows there should also be a considerable space (25-30 cm), since the plants are spreading and with a powerful root system.

Seed preparation

Seeds before planting can be soaked for 12-24 hours, before pecking. Before planting a hole, pour a hole, put two or three nuts into it and sprinkle it with earth. Shoots appear quickly enough, and they also grow intensively. In regions where spring is lingering or cool, you can also plant peanut peanuts. Cultivation is possible in seedlings. Nuts should also be soaked in water, and then planted to a depth of about 5 cm in small pots (8-10 cm tall). This should be done around the beginning or mid-April.

Watering and feeding fertilizer

Peanuts are very sensitive to excess moisture in both soil and air, it does not like it. Therefore, in terms of watering everything is quite simple. It is enough to slightly moisten the soil once a week, if there were rains, then do not do this. Adult plants water only in the case of very arid summer and then, only until the moment when the ovaries burrow into the soil.

Peanuts respond well to the application of mineral fertilizers. It is best to add them to the soil during digging and planting beds. Use complex preparations.

Care for peanuts

Knowing how to grow peanuts in your summer cottage, you can always get a small crop of nutritious nuts. The culture is very unpretentious and simple in agrotechnics. Care before flowering and fruit formation is mainly in the timely weeding of beds from weeds and loosening the soil.

A distinctive feature of peanuts is that its flower dissolves in the morning and fades by the evening, during this time it should be pollinated, only with this condition a fruit is formed. When the ovary gradually sinks down and burrows into the soil, it is possible to perform the first hilling. How it is done, everyone who grows potatoes on the site knows. The procedure is repeated several times for the entire season as needed.

Seeds of peanuts, as well as its young shoots can become easy prey for birds, so it is recommended at first time either to cover plants with a protective net or to install a scarecrow in the garden to scare away.

Harvest

About the fact that it is time to harvest peanut fruits, you will be known for the yellowing and withering leaves and stems of the plant. Typically, this happens in the fall, in mid-September. The bush should be excavated very carefully, it is best to use forks. It is not necessary to separate the roots from the stem. Plants are carefully shaken off the ground and dried completely. They need to be suspended or spread on a dry surface in a well-ventilated, not damp room. After ten days, you can safely separate peanuts in a shell from a dry plant. The fruits need some more time to dry. The shell must finally dry up and become thin and brittle. After that, you can extract the nuts from it. Under favorable environmental conditions and proper agrotechnics, up to 500 g of fruits can be obtained from one peanut bush.

Having received an answer to the question whether peanuts are a nut or bean pods, one can safely be taken for its cultivation. Agrotechnics are extremely simple and do not incur special forces and time. But how much will be the joy of the self-grown harvest.