A Detailed Guide to Peanut Planting Time and Growing Period

AbstractPeanut planting time: in the southern two-crop-a-year spring and autumn peanut region, sowing takes place in mid-February to March; in the Yangtze River Basin spring-summer peanut transition region, sowing takes place from March to the end of April; in the northern large peanut region and peanut production region, sowing takes place from the end of April to early May. Peanut growing period: choose excellent varieties for planting, and the growth period is about 110-120 days.

I. Peanut Planting Time

1. The southern two-crop-a-year spring and autumn peanut region generally sows in mid-February to March, the northern large peanut region and peanut production region sows from the end of April to early May, and the Yangtze River Basin spring-summer peanut transition region sows from March to the end of April.

2. The soil temperature must remain above 15°C for about 5 consecutive days before peanuts can be sown. If the temperature is below 11°C, do not sow, to prevent seed rot and seedling death, which would affect yield.

II. Peanut Sowing Methods

1. Peanuts can be sown in the open field or with plastic film mulch, and the planting density can be determined according to the climate, soil fertility, selected variety and planting conditions.

2. Peanut sowing is generally best at a depth of about 5cm. The principle is deeper for moist or highly sandy soil, and shallower for sticky or dry plots. For open-field planting, the shallowest should be no less than 3cm and the deepest no more than 7cm.

3. After sowing, the soil needs to be pressed down, which helps reduce water evaporation, allows the seeds and soil to make close contact, and promotes the rise of moisture from the lower soil layer, preventing the seeds from drying out and improving the germination rate.

III. Peanut Planting Techniques

1. Plot selection and land preparation

(1) The peanut is an economic crop that bears its fruit underground, so it should be planted in loose sandy soil or loamy sand soil.

(2) After selecting the planting plot, deep plowing is needed, then apply about 30-40 tons of high-quality farmyard manure per hectare, and after plowing, press the soil 1-2 times before sowing.

2. Variety selection

(1) To increase peanut yield, excellent varieties should be selected before sowing, such as the Fuhua series varieties and the Jifu series varieties, whose growth period is about 110-120 days.

(2) Pods that are uniform in shape, large and plump, and unbroken can be used as seed. Before shelling, they need to be dried in the sun for about 1-3 days, and after shelling, they should be selected again, choosing seeds that are uniform in shape and pure in kernel color.

3. Rational fertilization

Peanuts have low fertilizer requirements. Generally, base fertilizer is applied first, mainly farmyard manure, with about 30 tons of farmyard manure per hectare. For chemical fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer is the main type, and about 300-400 jin of diammonium phosphate can be applied per hectare. If the planting plot is relatively poor and thin, about 200-300 jin of urea can be added per hectare.

4. Thinning and replanting

Generally, thinning and replanting can be carried out from the end of May to early June. If a field is found to have missing seedlings, the method of pre-sprouting and watering can be used to replant, while completing the thinning work at the same time.

5. Clearing around the seedlings and root-strengthening

When the peanut seedlings emerge uniformly, dig a ring of soil around the seedlings and use your hands to expose the two cotyledons above the ground. Generally, clearing around the seedlings and root-strengthening are carried out three days after the first hoeing and ridging.

6. Timely hoeing and ridging

Generally, hoeing can begin after the seedlings emerge. Three days after hoeing, do the first ridging, and about 15-20 days later do the second hoeing and ridging. When earthing up, be careful not to press the seedlings. After the flowering period ends, do the third hoeing and ridging. When closing the rows, ridge in four directions, which helps the pegs enter the soil. Also pay attention to weed control.

7. Fertilization

During the pod-filling and full-fruit stage, peanuts can be fertilized according to the specific growth conditions with fertilizers such as 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate, which helps promote kernel formation.

8. Harvesting

Peanuts are generally harvested in mid-September, when the peanut leaves turn yellow and some stems and leaves dry up.