How many days does it take for peanuts to germinate?

Peanut is an annual herb that forms runners as it grows. These runners form nodes in the soil and eventually form pods at the nodes. The growing cycle of peanuts is generally 120-150 days, but this time can vary depending on the variety and planting conditions. Let’s learn how many days it takes for peanuts to germinate after planting.

Peanut seeds usually germinate about 5 to 8 days after sowing. The specific time will be affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, and soil conditions.

1. Temperature conditions

Different types of peanut varieties require different temperatures for germination and emergence. The minimum temperature required for germination is 12°C for pearl bean type and multi-grain type peanuts, and 15°C for ordinary type and dragon type peanuts. The most suitable temperature for peanut seeds to germinate is 25-37℃. If the temperature is lower than 10℃ or higher than 46℃, some varieties will not germinate.

2. Moisture requirements

Peanut seeds absorb about 4 times their weight of water from germination to emergence. The relative humidity of the soil should be between 60% and 70% during sowing. When the relative humidity of the soil drops to 40%, peanuts are prone to falling off and drying out. When the relative humidity of the soil is higher than 70%, due to lack of oxygen, seed respiration is inhibited, the germination rate of peanuts is reduced, and even seeds rot.

3. Oxygen requirements

Under suitable temperature and moisture conditions, when peanut seeds germinate and sprout, their respiration and metabolism are vigorous and they need a large amount of oxygen to promote the conversion of fat into sugars and ensure the normal growth of the seedlings.

4. Germination time

Peanuts begin to germinate about 5-7 days after planting, and the specific time varies depending on factors such as region and weather. The germination period of spring-sown peanuts is generally 8-15 days, while that of summer-sown peanuts is much shorter, generally 5-10 days.

5. Soil moisture

Keeping the soil moist is essential for peanut germination, but avoid overwatering to prevent conditions such as waterlogging and lack of oxygen.

To sum up, the germination time of peanut seeds is generally about 5 to 8 days, but this time may vary due to specific environmental conditions and management methods.