How to Grow Peanuts
Days to germination: 3 to 5 days
Days to harvest: 130 to 140 days
Light requirements: Full sun
Water requirements: Frequent watering
Soil: Sandy and well-drained
Container: Possible with a fairly wide container
Introduction
Peanuts are fairly unique in the nut world, as they grow underground and are not produced by large trees. That’s because they are not actually nuts at all, but legumes like beans or peas.
Once called goober peas in the United States, peanuts are a very popular snack food. They are most often eaten roasted on their own, as opposed to many other nuts that are used more in cooking. They are easily shelled by hand, which adds to their appeal.
There are two different kinds of peanut plants, one that grows in an upright bush and one that grows as a runner. Most home gardeners plant the bush type as it is much easier to harvest. Virginia varieties usually produce large peanuts with 2 kernels in each shell, whereas Spanish peanuts are smaller but usually have 3 nuts in each shell. If your growing season is not quite long enough, you could try Valencia peanuts. They mature in around 100 days.
Peanuts are very high in protein, more than other legumes or nuts. They also have fiber, magnesium, zinc and vitamin E. Unfortunately, there is a relatively high incidence of peanut allergies these days which has put the peanut slightly out of favor with the general populous.
Starting from Seed
Though some have had good success just planting peanuts bought at the grocery store (the raw ones, not roasted), you will do better getting proper seed peanuts from a gardening center. Purchased peanut seed should still be in their shells. You will have to shell them right before planting or they will dry out and not germinate.
Given their long growing season, you may want to get your peanut plants started early indoors. Use paper or peat pots so that you don’t shock the roots anymore than necessary, peanuts are quite delicate when it comes to transplanting.
Start your seeds 3 or 4 weeks before you expect your last frost date. Keep them well watered, but don’t soak them.
Transplanting
Your peanuts should be planted about 10 inches apart, with 2 or 3 seeds at each spot. They should be covered with 2 inches of soil. Once they sprout, thin it down to just 1 sturdy plant every 10 inches. Your peanuts or seedlings should be planted when there is no more threat of frost, about a week or two after your expected frost date.
Dig your soil down at least 6 inches to loose in it up for the growing peanut roots. Add a little extra lime to the soil to balance the pH.
Growing Instructions
As it grows, your peanut plant will put out runners, and each one will eventually grow a peanut at the end underground. These runners start out as the above-ground flowers. So once you see the plant’s flower starting to wilt and bend down, do not pick them off. That’s where your peanuts are going to come from. Those downward growing stems are called “pegs”
When you see your plants starting to grow their pegs, lightly dig around the plants so that the soil is very loose. The peg needs to grow down underground so you don’t want it blocked by stones or packed soil.
Once your plant has set down its pegs, do not cultivate or weed to roughly around the plant or you could accidentally pull up or break off a runner. Mulching can help keep the weeds down, just don’t add mulch until the pegs have moved down into the soil.
You will want to water your plants frequently, but avoid giving them too much water at once. Fertilizing is fine though not necessary. Use a low-nitrogen formula or you will end up with very bushy plants and no peanuts. When the plants begin to flower, a treatment with a calcium-rich fertilizer can help with nut formation.
Containers
Peanuts can be grown in containers, but you need to allow for extra surface space for the pegs to be put down by the plant. Your peanuts should be in pots no smaller than 20 inches across and at least a foot deep. Just one plant per pot.
Keep your plants well-watered but take care not to let the roots get waterlogged. Your containers should drain well.
Pests and Diseases
Peanuts are not really subject to many insect or disease problems.
Any usual garden insects that eat leaves can do damage to your peanut plants, such as cutworms or cucumber beetles. Spray the leaves of your plants with a pyrethrin-based insecticide spray to keep the bugs away. Watch for aphids too.
You will probably have more problems with mice or squirrels than any insect pests. They will dig up your peanuts once the pegs have set and the nuts begin to form. You might have to put some wire fencing around your plants to protect them, and make sure to push the fencing several inches below the soil to stop any digging.
Harvest and Storage
A healthy peanut plant will yield between 30 and 50 peanuts at harvest time.
Peanuts are sensitive to frost. Try to harvest your plants before the first fall frost, or immediately afterwards. Because peanuts don’t set their pegs all at once, you can have various levels of maturity among your peanuts. Don’t be surprised if some pods are not usable when you pull up your plants. Waiting longer can help a few more mature, but you may run the risk of frost damage if you wait too long.
When the peanuts are ready, the plant will start to yellow and wilt. Pull up the entire plant, and hang in a warm place for 1 to 2 weeks to let the peanuts cure. You can pull the nuts off the plant at this point, and then let them continue drying for another 2 weeks.
After that, you can roast them for eating or store them. For storage, leave your peanuts in their shells. They will last up to 6 months in the fridge that way. You can also freeze them, and they will last upwards of a year. For larger crops that won’t fit in the refrigerator, store the raw peanuts in their shells in a well-ventilated place that is both dry and dark. They are fine for 3 months.
If you discover your nuts have gotten moldy, you should dispose of them immediately. The aspergillus fungus can grow in moist conditions, and produces aflatoxin which is toxic in humans.
July 28th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
thank you for your info
August 21st, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Thanks for your article. I have a question… Once raw peanuts have been refrigerated or frozen can they be planted again? Would I need to keep peanuts in a dark pantry in an air tight container if I wanted to plant them? Thanks!
November 26th, 2011 at 4:44 am
Hi
I’m looking for any books about growing peanuts (farming). Can you recomend any (about soil preparation, fertilizing, tilling,…)
Thanks
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
I live in New Jersey and a couple of years ago successfully planted and grew Virginia Peanuts that I purchased from a reputable seed vendor. They where really great. The following year, with much enthusiasm we planted them again, but to our disappointment the top of the plants where all eaten shortly after they set there leaves. We are going to try them again this year, but I was wondering what animals could be the most guilty so that I might find a safer place to plant them.
Thank you.
March 1st, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Beware of Ebay seed sellers with fancy ads, and pics from a Google search. I bought some seeds that arrived shelled, and many were broken. If even the red skin is broken, they will not sprout. Seller tried to tell me each half of a seed would sprout, but that’s impossible. There’s no way seller has a big farm, a farmer would know that.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Dear Sir,
Could you tell me how many seeds in a 20 Inches wide and 12 Inches deep container ?
Thanks,
Shahzad Malik
April 26th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I have tow peanut plants in pots..they are doing great with lots of flowers..however,,today I saw two peanuts..dug up by squirrels. I am very disappointed I have moved the plants indoors, in a sunny area..do you think they will still do well?
May 15th, 2012 at 8:16 am
What seller did you buy from? I sold them on ebay but I sold them whole, unshelled and well packaged. My peanuts are growing beautifully now 🙂
June 23rd, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Squirrels love peanuts, so be careful. They’ll do anything for peanuts. I usually buy a bag full of shelled peanuts and feed them. Entertaining to watch them fight over it.
September 24th, 2012 at 6:40 am
Just the information I was looking for
November 3rd, 2012 at 9:59 am
I’ve been loking for seed dealers with little luck, would you please provide one or more reputable peanut seed dealers?
December 25th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
i am looking for big bags of peanuts that i can grind in with feed for cattle. It can be outdated! I can pick it up with tractor trailer in Va area or surrounding areas! Please let me know if you have any suggestions! Thnkas Norman
January 30th, 2013 at 11:16 am
Where do I buy Va. Peanuts to start a container ?
February 13th, 2013 at 9:45 am
I just bought some from burpee. you can order them online. Some people buy them from supermarkets you need to make sure not roasted. dried or green. Burpee says there true Va. nuts. My first time I’ll respond to let you know how they germinate after I start them inside in march.
February 22nd, 2013 at 6:52 pm
peanut seeds are available from Southern Exposure Seed Savers Exchange
March 5th, 2013 at 6:16 am
Has anyone started peanuts indoor yet? If so, what did you plant them in? I was given peanuts from a farmer to try in my garden and am anxious to plant asap. Thank you.
March 13th, 2013 at 7:34 am
Would peanuts be good for all animals..dogs/cats?
March 24th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
where can i find peanut seed
April 2nd, 2013 at 8:46 am
Thanks very much. I really want to try this just for the fun of it. I am a lover of peanuts and planting. Very useful information.
May 14th, 2013 at 11:29 am
thanks for your helpful hint on my peanuts to grow i will get back untouch with you to let you know how they are comin along.
May 28th, 2013 at 6:20 am
I am growing peanuts for the first time. I really appreciate all the information. I just learnt some more . Thanks. I love nuts. I have 2 hazelnut trees and as chesnut tree on my hobby farm ,but in surburbia I grow peanuts. Much easier as you need less space.
June 17th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
I bought Virginia jumbo peanut seeds from burpees &they arrived in 3days today.i planted 2seeds to each of the 21 4in pots.2″deep, watered,& covered with plastic to keep moist.in a bout 5-6dys I will raise the plastic covering &check for signs of germination.if any,I will remove the plastic completely &allow continued development.will update later as I hope to plant these in a public garden.to avert incidence of allergies I am planting the peanuts @the back of the bed with a buffer of tomatillo plants @the front &around.wish me luck
August 10th, 2013 at 1:27 am
thank you. i wanted to know if i had to pollinate or not. but your text just says that at the bottom of each flower should be a nut. lets hope. thanks again.
December 7th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Squirrels plant many peanuts in my yard. Other than the squirrels (pests), something bores holes in the shells.
Peanuts will grow through mulch.
June 19th, 2014 at 7:21 am
CAN I TAKE A REGULAR RAW PEANUT AND GROW MY PLANTS?????
September 10th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
I was wondering how to take care and not remove them too soon or to lat thanks for the infoe’
March 19th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Was thinking about trying to plant similar to potato tower by using an old, plastic laundry basket, 30″ x 15″. Place straw on bottom and sides, fill with soil and sand mix. Will plant indoors and transplant when temps are warmer (zone 6b). 2 plants per basket. Am I crazy? Planting for bird food.
July 23rd, 2015 at 11:28 pm
I live in Arizona and have started doing straw bale gardening. Though the bales aren’t sandy, they get a lot of sunlight and have excellent drainage. Do you think it would be possible to grow peanuts in the bales? I realize it’s too late for me to start them this year, but I’m already starting to plan what to grow next year. If you haven’t heard of Straw Bale Gardening, you can see the information about it on-line.
April 27th, 2016 at 10:41 am
Can i grow peanuts in a green house ? And are they self pollinating or do they need critters to do that or are they like tomatoes.
September 27th, 2016 at 7:31 am
Are these plants salt tolerant?
August 5th, 2017 at 11:30 am
When is the right time to wash the peanuts before roasting and ant specal steps to take?