Peanut sprouts

Sweet Tatorman's picture

I suspect that many/most members of GW at least occasionally incorporate sprouted seeds into their cuisine.

This post is basically intended to encourage others to give peanut sprouts a try.

I have previously posted on my "Four Crops of the Apocalypse" of which peanuts are one. Three of the four I grow in sufficient quantity that they exceed my own needs and peanuts are one of these. I have searched for ways to increase my peanut consumption and what I have found to be most satisfactory is to use then in their sprouted form either fresh in salads or as a stir-fry component. Sprout them as you would any other seed. Give them a try.

David Trammel's picture

When we get around to writing a Green Wizard Workbook, to be a companion to Greer's "Green Wizardry", I think the first lesson in the Food and Garden section will be "Sprouts and Micro-Greens", since both are things that a budding Green Wizard can do in their home, small scale, with minimal cost, and contribute to their food independance.

And it will introduce people to Gardening too.

I'll see what I can put together this Spring as a way of a demo with pictures. I don't do sprouts yet, since I have a couple of small Purslane plants which provide regular additions to my salads and stir fries but, my micro-greens are doing very well. I have 11 lettuce plants in four 2 gallon self watering planters under the grow lamps.

I should have been harvesting them two weeks ago. Here is one planter, that I havested for a salad this week.

As you can see, I left a few leaves on each plant. The harvest was about half of the greens I used, the other half being some store bought spinach, and made two full salads for meals this week. I need to get started some spinach plants too.

You can see that a small garden, perhaps one shelf of four feet, with a single grow lamp, or even a broad shelve in front of a South facing window would provide a good addition to your diet.

I'm going to take a guess here, and say if you are allergic to peanuts, you shouldn't eat peanut spouts or feed them to your least favorite relatives?

David Trammel's picture

grins...that goes up there with "don't hit your face with a hammer."

Peanut sprouts might not be easy to identify in a dish...oops, so sorry, Tommy! Should have warned you!

I have to say that this and the microgreens thread have caught my fancy. I struggle with weather extremes (ah, who doesn't anymore?) such that my seedling time, if I grow starts outdoors, is a very narrow window between cold (limited growth) and too hot/dry.

Thanks for this idea, Sweet Tatorman (and David, for the microgreens thread)

ClareBroommaker's picture

Don't you think that even indoors you might have trouble with temperatures? My winter indoor temperatures are not good for sprouting legumes except for peas. Maybe if I had an always warmer spot such as by a fireplace it might work.

I think peanuts need warm temps to germinate, too. Maybe 72-74 minimum? Is that right, Sweetatorman? (As is, I usually put an electric heating cable in sand under the peppers I start indoors in January.)

Sweet Tatorman's picture

I normally run my indoor temperature at 72F. At that temp it takes about 5 days for the sprouts. You can probably go somewhat lower with longer times. For planting peanuts the conventional wisdom is noon time soil temp of at least 65F at planting depth so that certainly suggests that somewhat lower than my 72F should work.

David Trammel's picture

Just before Christmas I recieve a seed catalog from Baker Creek. They list two varieties of peanut seeds, Tennessee Reds and Fastigiata Pin Striped. The first is more typical for North America as the second is a Ecuadorian import.

I'm interested in micro greens and sprouts as a way to grow green leafies to eat during the Winter months for additional nutrition.

Fuel prices are cheap right now but I believe at some point in the Future, they will shoot back up. Its January and I can still get fresh spinach and other Summer veggies at the store. When the transportation prices go back up, we Americans will be faced with the unfamiliar sight of empty shelves at our groceries.

The lettuce I transplanted in indoor buckets have grown out very well to, to the point that the leaves are starting to go into my weekly salad. I need to take a picture or two and post them.

I also should do a sprout tutorial soon.

Sweet Tatorman's picture

I grow Tennessee Red Valencia which is likely what you are seeing in the Baker Creek catalog.