Peanut Seeds x 20 - Arachis hypogaea

The Peanut plant is an annual herbaceous plant that grows to 50 cm high, related to peas and beans. Its seeds, commonly known as peanuts, are contained in pods with wrinkled beige skin. After flowering, the plant forms "pegs" that grow down into the soil form the pods. Sow from March onwards and harvest from August to October. Depending on the climate, peanuts can be grown in the garden or in containers.

Peanut plants are heat-loving oleaginous plants native to Mexico, cultivated on a large scale to produce groundnut oil. It is possible to grow your own peanuts at home: outdoors in warmer regions, in containers in cooler regions. Peanut plants produce pretty orange-yellow flowers from May to July. Once pollinated, the ovary-carrying stems or "pegs" develop and burrow into the ground to form the fruit. The pods containing the peanuts are located about 3 to 5 cm underground.

Fresh peanuts are generally eaten cooked, either boiled or roasted. They can be blended to make peanut butter. Peanuts are an excellent source of protein and fibre and contain many key vitamins and minerals. However, allergy to peanuts is among the most common food allergies.

Harvesting: peanuts are harvested in late summer, from August to early October, when the leaves turn yellow. The pods must be brown and wrinkled. Dig up the entire plant and harvest the pods. Leave them to dry in the sun; if the weather is bad, place them in a hot oven for about ten minutes without shelling them.

Storage: pods can be kept for 3-4 months in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Once roasted and salted, they will keep for 2-3 months in a warm, dry place.

Good to know: Peanuts belong to the Fabaceae family. Just like beans and peas, they fix nitrogen in the soil and can be grown as green manure.