¿How to grow peanuts in Houston?
The cultivation of peanuts is simple but requires space and hot summers. I believed in Chile are not cultivated, but here in Houston is one of my favorite summer crops and often I depend on it to cover the ground and protect it from the sunlight. In Houston, the uncover soil cooks and all the microorganisms migrate to deeper layers unless something shades the soil. Another very successful cover crop in Houston is sweet potatoes.
You can buy peanuts to plant at specialized stores (I recommend Southwest Fertilizer in Houston) or just at the supermarket raw in-shell peanuts (not roasted ). They are planted about 5 cm (2 inches) below ground in May-June, it is good to open the shell without removing peanuts before planting. Space 2 feet apart.
The harvest, in Houston, is usually four months later: September-October. They take 3-4 months to grow. Peanuts plants require moderate watering. Peanuts grow underground; it is good to dig a little around the plant to get a peanut and check if they are the right size before harvesting all plants. Peanut's skin inside the shell should be pale pink, a sign of maturity.
To harvest, pull out the entire plant, then let dry the whole plant with peanuts still in place for two weeks. Harvest and cook or roast peanuts before eating.
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