Peanuts in Bloom

It’s that time again when the peanut blossoms take center stage.  Gorgeous and delicate, these sweet yellow beauties are the sign of good things to come.  Below the bright green leaves the spindly legs–better known as “pegs”–bend down in search of soft dirt whereby they bury themselves for the process of forming their peanuts. Like carrots, they prefer loose soil (makes it easier to reach down and form nice full shells).  At this point, you can mulch around their base, much like you do for your potatoes.

Hmmm….   Memories from last year’s crop drift into the forefront of my mind.  I love peanuts.  Not only because they’re easy to grow–low maintenance, partial to Florida’s heat and practically pest resistant–but because they remind me of my childhood.

My mother is a southern lady through and through (not to mention a diehard football fan) and every season she’d treat us to the smell of peanuts boiling stove top, immersed in a broth of ham hock and salt.  Yes, she’d ADD salt, despite my suggestion to the contrary.  Her mother was from south Georgia and I don’t believe these folks ever met a dish with too much salt.  Me?  Don’t care for the stuff.  Makes me retain water, a problem I’ve come to realize, that only worsens with age.

But I do enjoy growing them, boiling them and serving them up for the family during a Sunday afternoon ball game–or gobbling up the fruits of someone else’s labors during scalloping season! 🙂

If you’ve never grown peanuts for yourself, you should.  Kids love peanut butter and it’s a recipe they’ll enjoy making at home, not to mention hubby may appreciate the boiled or roasted version–they mesh quite well with a frosty mug of sudsy beer.  When planting your peanuts, be sure to include rich organic compost and/or composted manure.  And throw in a hand-full of crushed eggshells.  These nuts really like the calcium kick!  These are Valencia peanuts which grow well here in Florida and are perfect for boiling.

About two months after bloom, lightly dig down around one of your plants to check their progress–you can use a fork to lift the pegs from the dirt.  A ripe peanut will feel firm, its outer shell somewhat dry and “papery.”  Once ready, gently pull entire plant from the soil, shake off the excess dirt and lay on a screen in the sun for 2-3 days before shelling.  to cure.  This is for the purpose of longer storage.  If you’re boiling your peanuts, you want them green.  Do not attempt to boil roasted peanuts.  They’ve already been cooked!

If you do plan to store your freshly harvested peanuts, place them in a warm dry location for about 2-3 weeks.  If you’re peanuts have already dried out and you get a craving for boiled peanuts, you’re in luck!  By soaking dried nuts for 24 hours you can “re-hydrate” them prior to the boiling process.  Check my recipe section for details.