Tropica Erdnuss

The peanut, the classic nut with lots of flavour and a hard shell, is produced by the peanut plant, which is a shrub about 50 cm high. After 2 months, the plant produces yellow flowers and pollinates itself. The flower stalks continue to grow and sink into the ground, where the peanuts develop, which are harvested after around 5 months.
Origin:
The largest growing areas are in Africa, Brazil and the USA.

Cultivation:
The seeds can be cultivated from January to October. Allow the seeds to pre-soak for a few hours in room temperature water and then place them in slightly moist potting compost. Keep the growing container very warm and water only moderately. The germination period is between 5 days and 3 weeks.

Location / light:
The plant thrives best in a bright west or south-facing window. It will only grow outdoors in summer.

Care:
A large pot diameter of at least 20 to 30 cm is required so that the many peanuts do not interfere with each other later on. It is best to mix a loose soil consisting of 2 thirds standard soil and 1 third sand, which you only ever water lightly. Adding fertiliser every 6 weeks is sufficient.

Overwintering:
The peanut does not need to overwinter as it is harvested before winter sets in.

Preparation:
When the leaves of the plant change colour and wither, the peanuts are ripe and the plant can be dug up. Spread the peanuts out to dry for 2 days and then separate the fruits from the "hay". As the plant is an annual, you can sow some of the harvested peanuts in spring and grow new plants. The remaining peanuts can be roasted in an oiled pan, salted to taste and eaten.

Seed packet with 8 seeds.