What are the cultivation methods for peanut sprouts?
After peanut seeds germinate, they can be eaten as a sprout vegetable, known as peanut sprouts. After peanuts germinate, their protein has already broken down into amino acids, the fat content is low, the vitamin content is comprehensively increased, and all kinds of nutrients are more easily absorbed by the human body. So what are the cultivation methods for peanut sprouts?
1. Variety selection
There are many peanut varieties, and small-seeded varieties are best for producing sprouts. When using seedling trays for production, use about 500 grams of seeds (dry weight) per tray; generally a peanut sprout grows to twice the length of the seed body, and each tray can produce 1.2 kilograms of peanut sprouts.
The seeds are required to be plump, uniform in size, and intact, with a germination rate above 95%. Before production, first select the peanut seeds by hand, remove broken and shriveled seeds, and select seeds of similar size together so they can be produced separately.
2. Seed soaking treatment
Then rinse the selected seeds with clean water and soak them for 10-12 hours so the seeds fully absorb water and swell (the maximum water absorption of the seeds is required to reach 51%-55% of the seed weight). Finally, rinse the seeds 2-3 times with clean water. Do not use iron containers when soaking the seeds.
3. Sowing and sprouting
Remove the seeds from the water, drain the surface moisture, and place them in a clean container free of oil, salt, acid, or alkali to sprout; the bottom of the container should have good drainage. Peanut sprouts need a lot of oxygen during growth, so the thickness of the seeds in the container should preferably not exceed 4 cm. Before sprouting, cover with a thick towel, keep the temperature between 23-26°C, and sprinkle water 2-3 times a day to avoid the seeds overheating. After sprouting, pick out the seeds that cannot germinate and the residual sprouts and rotten seeds, and continue sprouting.
If you prefer longer peanut sprouts, you can also spread a layer flat in disinfected seedling trays (scrubbed with bleaching powder or potassium permanganate solution, then rinsed clean with water), generally using 500 grams of seed per tray. Stack every 8-10 trays as one pile and carry out stacked-tray sprouting.
4. Daily temperature and humidity control
The minimum temperature needed for peanut sprouting and growth is 15°C, the optimum temperature is 20-25°C, and the maximum temperature is 30°C; humidity should be kept moist, and cultivation should be carried out with shading in a well-ventilated environment. In winter, when temperatures are low, cultivation must be carried out under insulated and shaded conditions such as a medium tunnel or a large tunnel. Each production cycle is 8-10 days.
5. Timely harvesting
When the peanut sprouts are 1-2 cm long, the seed coat is intact, and the cotyledons (peanut halves) have not yet opened, they must be harvested promptly. If the cotyledons open and the sprout embryo is exposed, they are very easily greened, which lowers the quality.
Notes: During the cultivation process, peanut sprouts must never be exposed to light, to prevent greening. Iron products must not be used for containers used to produce peanut sprouts; otherwise, the seed coat is prone to developing a rusty color, which affects quality. The water used must be clean, sterile tap water or iron-free deep well water, and the water temperature must meet the greenhouse standard (above 20°C); otherwise, it will affect the normal growth of the peanut sprouts.