Areas Of Growth In Australia

Peanuts are predominantly grown in Queensland but there are some other areas in Australia where they grow.

Types Of Peanuts And Their Uses

Did you know that peanuts grow in the ground and not on trees like most other nuts? This is because they are not a nut; they are a legume.

There are four main varieties of peanuts grown commercially around the world. These are: Virginia, Runner, Spanish and Valencia.

Peanuts grown in Australia. Only three types of peanuts are grown in Australia.
1. Virginia	2. Runner	3. Spanish
Virginia peanuts are best known as the jumbo nuts and are used primarily for the production of snack foods.	Runner peanuts are medium-sized nuts which are mostly used as confectionery additives, in the manufacture of peanut butter and in some snack foods.	Spanish peanuts are small in size and mainly used in the production of peanut butter and some confectionery lines.

The Peanut Growth Cycle

Peanuts are generally planted in the spring and summer months in Australia because they are susceptible to destruction by frost. It takes about five months for a peanut plant to mature.

The peanut seed is planted a few centimeters below the soil. It is important that the soil is loosely packed, has good drainage and is rich in calcium. Calcium is generally added by the farmer in the form of gypsum.

Peanut seeds break the soil about 10 days after planting and grow into green-leafed plants about 45 cm tall.

Then about 30-40 days later the plant will bloom producing small, bright, yellow flowers.

These flowers self-pollinate, and the fertilised plant forms several stalks or 'pegs' which curve downward to grow into the soil. After about a week in the soil the 'pegs' swell, developing into pods and it takes about another 9-10 weeks to mature before harvesting can occur.

The plants are ready to harvest in late summer or early autumn, when the foliage begins to yellow. Once harvested the peanuts undergo a drying process for several days before they are shelled and roasted.