In harvesting groundnuts, It may surprise many to find out that the groundnut plant grows above ground, but the seeds known as groundnut grows underground, which makes it a unique plant.
Before we go into the harvesting of this crunchy food, let’s talk briefly about the existence of groundnuts.
Groundnut planting in Nigeria is one of the most profitable businesses in the country. It has a high demand because of how nutritious it’s seeds are and, most importantly, the edible oil extracted from the seeds.
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Groundnuts can be processed in many ways, depending on the product people want to get from it.
The nuts can be boiled, fried, roasted, or eaten with other foods. The edible oil derived from the nuts are referred to as grinding oil. It is a good source of edible oil. The local pastry called kuli kuli can be made and crushed.
Groundnut is mainly grown in Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Bauchi states in northern Nigeria, because peanuts are in arid or semi-arid regions.
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Groundnut farming in Nigeria is a livelihood for small farmers, especially in northern Nigeria. Groundnuts can be planted on flat ground or on mountain ridges, but studies have shown that planting on mountain ridges produces higher yields than those planted on flat surfaces.
To get more yields it is advisable to plant your groundnut on flat ground or on ridges. because studies show that the yield is higher when planted on ridges than on flat surfaces. Planting on ridges can easily drain excess water, avoid seedbed compaction, and facilitate field operations such as weeding and fertilization.
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TIPS FOR GROWING GROUNDNUTS
Groundnuts are grown in early spring and grow best in calcium-rich sandy soil.
Although it is considered a warm climate crop, these plants also grow in colder climates. Groundnut plants have a long growth period (with a frost-free period ranging from 100 to 130 days), which is similar to that of pepper plants. Plants can be banished at any time after 100-120 days.
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In colder climates, the trick to planting is to choose an early-maturing variety, which is only peeled for about 100 days before harvest. Another trick in cold climates is to plant it on a south-facing slope. Growing groundnuts indoors 5 to 8 weeks before transplanting can also make a good start early in the season. It is important to choose a sunny location, and it is recommended to cover the rows with plastic to protect the seedlings from spring frost.
TIPS FOR CARING FOR THE GROUNDNUT
To care for the plant, we must remove weeds to prevent them from competing for resources and nutrients.
An important step is to pile up soil around the plants before flowering, so that the flower ovary can reach the ground and increase its productivity.
So, let’s talk about harvesting of the groundnut which is also known as peanut.
HARVESTING THE GROUNDNUT
The process of harvesting groundnuts begins when the leaves of the plant are light yellow.
At this point you must remove some pods from the ground and make sure that you can see some of the dark veins inside, which indicates that they are ripe and ready to be harvested.
The harvest of the pods begins from 100 days to 6 months after the sowing begins.
The entire plant is dug up and most of the soil is carefully removed.
To get a good harvest, it takes 120 to 140 days without frost. Groundnuts are harvested in the fall, around October. Carefully, by removing the plants from the ground to avoid damaging the groundnuts.
Then dry them in the sun for a few days.
If the harvest is too late, when the plant is pulled out, the pods will fall off and stay underground.
After drying, the pods can be easily removed from the plant, can be picked and stored in a cool and dry place for several months, or can be taken out and used immediately.
IN CONCLUSION
After harvest, peanuts should be dried in the open air for a few days. The best way to dry peanuts is to leave them in the sun for a week and try to turn them all over on those days so that the sun shines everywhere and the drying is even. They must be very dry to store and not be contaminated by fungi.
