Peanut Growing Guide

The ideal time of year to plant peanuts is between late April to mid-June. Pick a location for your peanut that gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and has loose, rich, well-drained soil. If choosing to grow in a pot or raised bed, make sure it is at least 18-20 inches across and 18 inches deep per plant. Peanut plants will flower with yellow blooms before pegging. “Pegging down” is the term that describes how this stalk continues to grow into the ground until it reaches a depth of 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.). At the end of each peg is where the seed pods begin to form, encasing the seeds, or peanuts. About six to eight weeks after planting small yellow flowers will begin to form. When this happens, you’ll want to hill a little loose dirt around the plant. Once a flower has pollinated, the petals fall off, and it sends a shoot down into the dirt, where the peanuts will grow! Just one plant can grow 30-50 peanuts, so the plant needs some room to spread out to send as many of its shoots as possible into the dirt. Peanuts spread via “rhizomes”— or underground shoots that new plants form from, so you won’t have to plant new seeds the next year. Peanuts do best in high humidity, high heat situations, as they are native to tropical rainforests.

Peanuts are thought to have originated in South America, where Peruvian Indians cultivated them at least 3,500 years ago and used them as food as well as currency.

Inoculants are useful for nitrogen-fixing legumes like peanuts because they add bacteria populations in the soil that help plants fix more nitrogen, and the high nitrogen will help other types of crops grow after rotating. Inoculants contain billions of live bacteria that are essential to the nitrogen-fixing process of vegetable and cover crop plants. The bacteria work to actively convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for the plant. This allows vegetable plants to make their own nitrogen, and allows cover crops to increase the amount of stored nitrogen that is available to the following crop. Use our Granular Garden Soil Inoculant if peanuts have not been planted in the last 5 years.

We always recommend using a drip tape irrigation system to grow peanuts for several reasons. Drip irrigation ensures the plants are getting the right amount of water directly to the root system during these vital times. Drip irrigation also helps to keep weed pressure down while seedlings are starting to emerge. Overall, the rule of thumb is that peanut plants require 1 to 2 inches of water per week.

You’ll know that the plant is ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow and the plant appears to be dying, usually 120 to 150 days after planting.. This is when it puts most of its energy into growing the seeds. Loosen the soil around plants with a garden fork and lift them by grasping at the base and pulling. Shake the dirt from the roots and pods and let the plants dry in the sun for a week (with the pods on top). Remove the pods from plants and spread them on newspaper in a cool, dry place (such as a garage) for several weeks. Cure peanuts in the sunshine for a few weeks; bring them indoors if rain is forecast. In cold climates or wet weather, hang peanut plants to cure in an airy but shaded place, a garden shed or attic. Peanuts should cure for about 2 months. When the leaves are dry and crumbly, take the nuts off the vines, roast them, and store them. If peanuts are not dry, place them in a mesh bag or cardboard box to dry another 2 or 3 weeks. If peanuts become moldy, place them in the trash. Peanut mold is a dangerous carcinogen.

Raw, unshelled peanuts can be kept in a dry, dark, well-ventilated place for up to 3 months. Dried-shelled peanuts can be stored in a cool, dry place for 10 to 12 months. Shelled peanuts can be sprouted, frozen, used for peanut butter, or roasted for snacks. Shelled peanuts can be stored briefly in airtight containers and refrigerated. For long-term storage, peanuts can be frozen.