Legumes · Expert
Peanut
Arachis hypogaea
Tub of light growing medium or NFT, warm and humid in a sunroom, to watch the pods bury themselves: expert level.
- EC (mS/cm)
- n/a
- pH
- n/a
- Cycle
- very long
- Difficulty
- Expert
Sound origin
Arachis hypogaea
The peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is native to northwestern Argentina and southeastern Bolivia. Its species name recalls its peculiarity: its fruits ripen underground, carried by a gynophore (peg).
Source: Wikipedia
What it provides nutrients
Per 100 g, raw · Peanut
- Rich in vitamin B9
- Rich in potassium
- Rich in magnesium
- Rich in fiber
% of an adult’s reference intake (EU Regulation 1169/2011). “Source of”: at least 15 % per 100 g, “high in”: at least 30 % (thresholds of EC Regulation 1924/2006).
Key steps
- Grown in NFT by Tuskegee University for NASA programs (Mortley et al.).
- After flowering, the fertilized flower forms a peg that pushes 3 to 5 cm down into the dark to form the pod: you need a light growing medium or a channel where it can bury itself.
- Humidity matters: at 85 % relative humidity versus 50 %, plants flower 3 days earlier, pegs grow faster and the seed harvest is bigger (Tuskegee, HortScience 2000).
- A plant that loves heat and light: sunroom or greenhouse in Belgium, sow somewhere warm in April.
- Grow it alone in its own solution: in a shared loop with sweet potato, it produced far fewer pods; on its own, its pod mass was 82 % higher (Tuskegee, 1998).
- A project for enthusiasts: the harvest is modest, the main appeal is watching the pods form.
In which system?
| Tower | NFT | Growing medium | Kratky |
|---|---|---|---|
Approximate calendar
| Sowing | Apr. |
| Plants | May, June |
| Harvest | Sept., Oct. |
Garden, patio, balcony: Belgian and northern French climate, earlier farther south. Estimates to adjust with your own dates.
Frequently asked questions
Hydroponic peanut: what pH?
No specific range is published for this crop in the Oklahoma State table: we do not force an unverified figure. Start from the common range of 5.5–7.0 and write down your results.
Hydroponic peanut: what EC?
Oklahoma State has published no value for this crop. Start low, watch the growth and record your measurements in a log.
Peanut: which hydroponic system?
Best suited: growing medium (Dutch bucket). Light growing medium tub or NFT, warm and humid in a sunroom, so you can watch the pods bury themselves: expert level.
Peanut: when to sow in Belgium?
Indicative window for a garden, patio or balcony in Belgium or northern France: April. Adjust with your own dates.
- D. G. Mortley et al., Tuskegee University, HortScience 35(1), 2000
- D. G. Mortley et al., Tuskegee University, HortScience, 1998