How to Grow a Peanut Bush

Peanuts

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a legume related to the pea rather than a true nut, with edible seeds that grow in underground pods. Peanuts are originally from tropical South America but will grow anywhere than has 120 frost-free days. Peanut plants grow up to 24 inches tall and 3 feet across and produce yellow flowers. As the flowers fade, their stems elongate and push the developing seeds underground. Each peanut plant can produce up to 3 pounds of peanuts.

Things You'll Need

• Peanut seeds
• Balanced fertilizer
• Organic mulch
• Limestone or agricultural gypsum (optional)

Instructions

1. Plant peanuts in a sunny spot in the garden once the last frosts have passed. Till the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches to remove any lumps, and then enrich the soil with 1/2 cup of balanced 8-8-8 fertilizer for every 10 feet of row. Sow seeds 2 to 3 inches deep in sandy soil and 1 1/2 inches deep in heavier soil. Sow five seeds per foot of row with 20 inches between rows.

2. Water immediately after sowing, and aim to keep the soil continually moist. Increase watering as the flowers fade and the developing pods start to grow down into the ground. Avoid wetting the foliage when watering your peanut bushes, and do not water your peanut plants for about 10 days prior to harvesting, as wet peanuts may sprout in the ground.

3. Remove the weakest seedlings, leaving two or three plants per foot. Apply a 2-inch layer of organic mulch, such as compost or bark chips. This maintains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Hand-pull any weeds that emerge.

4. Harvest your peanuts by digging up the bush and collecting the pods. Peanuts for boiling can be harvested between 90 to 110 days after planting, while peanuts for roasting take between 130 and 150 days to mature.

Tips & Warnings

• Peanuts germinate best at temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold areas, sow peanuts indoors or in a greenhouse up to five weeks before the last frosts.

• Peanut plants thrive in free-draining sandy soil that contains plenty of organic matter.

• If your peanut bush produces few peanuts, test your soil's calcium levels, and enrich it with limestone or agricultural gypsum if it is calcium-deficient. Do not plant peanuts in soil that has recently held legumes such as peas or beans.

References

• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Peanut
• Utah State University Extension: Peanuts - Grow Nuts in the Garden Next Year
• Purdue University Extension: Peanut
• Fort Valley State University: Growing Peanuts