Maximum Yield Cannabis Canada 2017 November/December | Page 38
legumes
The peanut plant produces its pods on the ends of
pegs, long stems that develop from the aerial portion
of the plant after flowering and then burrow down
under the growing media to develop the young fruit.”
For hydroponic systems, either tall or
shorter varieties can be grown. Taller vines
need some form of support, while shorter
cultivars are up to two feet in height and are
often self-supporting. Indeterminate, shorter
varieties of peas are the preferred choice
for those with limited space, as these can
be planted in double rows or groups so that
plants support each other without the need
for trellising. Choosing pea varieties with
powdery mildew resistance is recommended
and many of the new and improved cultivars
are worth trialling in hydroponic systems.
Peas prefer lower overall growing
temperatures than beans, with optimums
in the 13-18°C range for most varieties.
Temperatures above 29°C can lead to
minimal vegetative growth and poor flower
development and fruit set. Peas also benefit
from good air flow around the base of the
plants and avoidance of overcrowding,
which can promote the development of
fungal diseases.
PEANUTS
Drip-irrigated peanut production system.
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grow cycle
Peanuts are another legume crop that
performs well in hydroponics and makes an
attractive, interesting, and unique addition to
an indoor garden. The peanut plant produces
its pods on the ends of pegs, long stems that
develop from the aerial portion of the plant
after flowering and then burrow down under
the growing media to develop the young fruit
(peanut seeds inside brown pods). For this
reason, hydroponic systems for peanut plant
production need to have substrate that is soft,
friable, and light, and with the surface under
the plant exposed for the pegs to grow down
into. Finer grades of sterilized coconut fibre or
blended coconut fibre and perlite make ideal
substrates for this crop. A well-grown peanut
plant can have up to 30-40 pods, so a growing
container or bed that holds at least 9.8 litres
of media is required when growing hydro-
ponically. Also, peanut plants need a warm
growing environment with reasonably high
light levels for maximum growth and good air
flow up and under the crop, as damp condi-
tions favour fungal pathogen development.
Crop timing under ideal growing conditions
is usually around 140 days, although this
is somewhat variety dependant. Outdoors,
peanuts are harvested when the foliage
begins to turn yellow and die back; however,
in a hydroponic system, it is possible to
dig back some of the growing substrate,
observe the development of the young pods,
and determine when the peanuts are large
enough to harvest some or all from the plant.
Harvested peanuts then need to be dried
inside the pods in a warm place for about four
weeks before they can be stored.