How to Grow Peanuts, The Complete Gardener’s Guide Donna Larson, March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 Growing peanuts at home can be a rewarding and fun gardening project. Let’s look at how to grow peanuts successfully, from selecting the right variety to harvesting your crop, so you can enjoy fresh, homegrown peanuts. Skip Down for How to Grow Peanuts A Brief History of the Peanut Plant The peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea) originated in South America, likely in present-day Bolivia or Paraguay, where it was domesticated over 7,000 years ago by indigenous peoples. Spanish and Portuguese explorers spread peanuts globally, leading to their cultivation in Africa, Asia, and North America. Today, peanut production mostly happens in warm climates using mechanized farming methods. Major producers use good crop rotation, irrigation, and advanced harvesting techniques to maximize yield and sustainability. About the Peanut Plant Today, the peanut plant is a vital global crop, with major producers including China, India, The United States, Nigeria, and Argentina. It thrives in warm, sandy soils and requires about 90–150 frost-free days to mature, with modern farming to maintain soil health and prevent disease. Peanut pods are widely used for food products like peanut butter, oil, and snacks, as well as livestock feed. Sustainable farming practices and genetic research continue to improve yields, pest resistance, and drought tolerance. Peanut Pegs The pegs of a peanut plant are long, slender structures that develop from the flower after pollination. Once the peanut plant flowers are fertilized, the peg grows downwards from the flower and penetrates the soil. At the tip of the peg, the peanut (or “pod”) forms and matures underground. The pegs are crucial for the plant’s reproduction, as they are responsible for guiding the developing peanuts into the soil, where they grow into the familiar pods that we harvest. Peanut Varieties When learning how to grow peanuts, you’ll choose one of four main types of peanuts grown today: Runner Types of Peanuts – The most widely grown type in the U.S., especially in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, runners have uniform size and are primarily used for peanut butter. Virginia Jumbo Peanut Plants – Known for their large size and crunchy texture, Virginia peanuts are often used for gourmet snacks and roasting in-shell. Spanish Peanuts – Smaller with a reddish-brown skin, these peanuts have a higher oil content, making them ideal for candies, peanut oil, and snack foods. Valencia Peanuts – Typically grown in New Mexico, Valencias have high yields, a sweet flavor and three or more kernels per shell, making them popular for boiling and natural peanut butter. When to Plant Peanuts Peanuts should be planted in the spring when the soil temperature reaches at least 65°F and all danger of frost has passed. This is usually between February and June, depending on your location. They have a long growing season, needing about 90–150 frost-free days, depending on variety, to mature before harvest. Where to Plant Peanuts Plant your peanut seeds in a warm, location with full sun (at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily). Ensure the area has plenty of space, as peanut plants spread out, and avoid planting in spots where legumes (like beans or peas) were grown recently to reduce the risk of disease. How to Grow Peanuts in Home Gardens To plant peanuts, follow these steps: Prepare Loose Soil Plant the Seeds Water Gently Provide Warmth Weed and Maintain Harvest in late Summer to Fall How to Grow Peanuts – Soil Loosen the soil about 6–8 inches deep, ensuring it’s well-drained and slightly sandy. Avoid heavy clay soils. Peanuts prefer a acidic soil pH between 5.8 and 7.0. Ensure the soil temperature is at least 65°F before planting, as peanuts need warm conditions to sprout. Our native soil type where my garden is located is not just sandy soil, it’s purely sugar sand. We add about 2 inches of compost, mix it with the top layer of sand, and then plant our peanut seeds. How to Grow Peanuts – Sowing and Spacing We do not recommend attempting to start seeds indoors for transplanting peanut seedlings. While it’s not impossible to grow them this way, peanut plants thrive when the seeds are direct sown. They do not like their roots to be disrupted. We also do not recommend purchasing green peanuts from the grocery store for planting because they’ve most likely been sprayed with a growth inhibitor. Use raw, untreated peanut seeds (shelled but with the skin intact) and plant them 1–2 inches below the soil surface, and 6–8 inches apart in rows spaced 24–36 inches apart. I’ve also grown them by not shelling them with the same success as shelled peanuts. How to Grow Peanuts – Watering Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, especially during germination and early growth. Peanuts should receive 1 to 2 inches of water per week. How to Grow Peanuts – Harvest Time After 90–150 days, when the leaves turn yellow, carefully dig up the entire plant and dry the peanuts for a few weeks before use. Simply pull up the whole plant and gently shake off the excess soil from the roots to reveal your peanuts. Pluck your peanuts off the plants. Storage Do not wash your peanuts after harvesting. Instead, let them dry in a warm, airy place for about 1–2 weeks to cure properly. Washing them too soon can introduce moisture that may cause mold or spoilage. Once fully dried, you can clean them gently if needed before storage or roasting. Problems With Peanuts The most common problems the home gardener may find when growing peanuts are: Pests Diseases Poor Germination – If soil temperatures are too cold (below 65°F/18°C) or too wet, seeds may rot before sprouting. Ensure warm, well-drained soil for best results. Weed Competition Nutrient Deficiencies How to Grow Peanuts – Weeds Unwanted grasses and weeds are the main problem when growing peanuts because they grow slowly at first. Nearby vegetation will compete with the peanut plants for water and minerals. Keep the area weed-free and apply mulch to retain moisture. Once the plants flower, their pegs will grow into the soil to form peanuts underground. How to Grow Peanuts – Pests/Diseases Insects like aphids, wireworms, root-knot nematodes, and peanut worms can damage plants and pods. Crop rotation and organic pesticides help manage them. Fungal diseases like leaf spot, rust, and southern blight can affect peanut plants, especially in humid conditions. Proper spacing, crop rotation, and fungicides can help prevent outbreaks How to Grow Peanuts – Fertilizer Requirements Peanuts actually don’t need much fertilizer, as the plant is a natural nitrogen-fixing plant on its own. Use a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer like 5-10-10 or 0-10-10 to promote root and pod development. Peanuts need calcium to develop healthy pods; a deficiency can lead to “hollow heart” peanuts. Adding gypsum and/or boron as a side-dressing during flowering can help. Recipes Make sure that you do not eat raw peanuts as they may contain aflatoxins that cause illness. Here are a few simple ideas that you can do with your own homegrown peanuts. Roasted Peanuts – Spread them on a baking sheet and roast at 350°F for 10–15 minutes until golden and fragrant. Let them cool slightly. Sprinkle with a heavy Kosher or flakey salt if you like. Boiled Peanuts – Wash 2 pounds of peanuts (in the shells), sprinkle with 1/4 cup salt, and cover with water. Bring to a boil then simmer for 2-3 hours, making sure to add water as needed. Serve hot. Peanut Butter – Blend 2 cups of shelled, roasted peanuts for a few minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender pitcher. If it’s too pasty, add a teaspoon at a time of your choice of oil (recommend avocado oil), until its a consistency that you like. Add an optional 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar or honey to create a flavor that you prefer. Summary of How to Grow Peanuts In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to grow peanuts, including choosing the right planting site, preparing the soil, and planting the seeds. We’ve also shared tips on maintaining your peanut plants, managing pests, and preventing common problems. By following these steps and ensuring the right care, you’ll be able to have your own healthy peanut crop for a successful harvest of your own delicious peanuts. Happy Planting! Donna @ Hazel Belle Farm Donna and her family have been homesteading for most of their 20+ years together in some shape or fashion. She currently lives on their 20 acre farm where they grow as much food as possible. What started as a just a few laying hens, has grown into large gardens, pastured poultry, pork, and lamb. They are continuously evolving their small farm to not suit their family’s needs, but also providing to their local community. Donna’s favorite part of the family farm is her self-built micro-dairy, where she gets to love on dairy cows while serving her local community. Milking, cheesemaking, and processing dairy have become the soul of their homestead and the center of their farm. Homesteading