Ground nut is actually from legumes

Ground nut is a herbaceous annual plant from a wide family of legumes. Usually it grows to a height of 25-40 cm. Its leaves are parodermiform with a small grooved cuttings. Flowers in short little-flowered brushes. Corolla five-petal, whitish or yellow, curved, calyx double-skinned. The elements of the flower die after fertilization, and the stalk and the ovary begin to grow, actively turning downward, venturing into the soil where the fruits of the cocoon-shaped form develop from the ovary. The beans themselves are covered with a dense mesh pericarp with a different number of seeds: 1 - 2 seeds (up to 5) in one or two interceptions. Usually the seeds are oblong, fleshy, 9 to 20 mm in size, with a brownish-red shell. Blossoms of earth almonds in June - July, and the fruits themselves ripen very quickly - in September - October.

Groundnuts - history and chemical composition

For the first time the culture of earth almonds appeared in the 16th century. In Brazil, where she accidentally ended up in China, and then in Europe. I got to Russia in the 18th century. In the field, peanuts began to grow only in the Soviet era.

It is now widespread in some areas of Transcaucasia, the North Caucasus, in the south of the European part of Russia, and in Central Asia.

Chemical composition . In the useful seeds of peanuts, as scientists have shown, up to 52% of fatty oil contains glycerides of lignoceric, arachine, stearic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, hypogeic, lauric, myristic, yikozenic, ceritinic and behenic acids. In addition to this oil, there are proteins in the seeds (up to 36%), globulins (up to 18%), glutenins (about 16%), Arachin konarachine, vitamins E, B1 (in the seed peel), pantothenic acid, biotin and others. In alkaline seeds, alkaloid Arachin, choline, and betaine are excreted.

Landing

Plant peanut (peanut seeds) towards the end of April, sometimes in early May. He loves very well-burdened, but rather "rough" soil. This means that it should not be crushed too much, carefully grind lumps. The earth must be rich in calcium. If it is not enough, it is necessary to add 100-200 g to a 12 to 15 meter crop before sowing, and as much as before the shoots begin to bloom. The optimal acidity of soil for a given plant is a level of 5.6 to 6.2.

Plant the seeds to a depth of 3 cm at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Such a planting allows peanuts to much easier and more convenient to fight with weeds - thus, it does not allow them to grow normally, lowly bending to the ground. So with weeding, we can do less. Soil must be rich in organic. The set is common - humus, peat-manure mixture.

If there is a mixed forest nearby - it is advisable to bring and add forest land (as the upper loose layer, which is very easy to dig).

Care

After 6 - 8 weeks. After they were planted, the peanut sprouts begin to bloom, to be pollinated. Ground nut is a self-pollinated plant. And after all the flowers die, you should plant the plant like a potato, and pour abundantly organic mulch (from peat, sawdust, humus, sand) to the beds, with a layer no more than 5 cm. The ground for this mulch should be loose and lumpy.

While peanuts are in the process of flowering, watering it is necessary abundantly - every 3 to 4 days. When it is blossomed, it is much less watering - once in 1 - 1.5 weeks. But if suddenly during this period there will be constant rains - all plantings of peanuts will be better covered.

Vintage

Harvest, counting from the time of planting 110 - 120 days. This is a fairly unpretentious plant. Noticeable yellowing of the leaves is a signal for urgent harvesting; It is better to dig the bushes with pitchforks. Be sure to arrange the ragged beans for drying in the shade. The dry shell of the beans breaks easily, while releasing very useful, nutritious and delicious nuts.

With the correct planting, as well as careful care, the peanut will delight you with its splendid harvest.