How to Grow Peanuts in the Home Garden

The peanut pods contain peanuts, which are the seeds of the plant.

Peanuts are tropical plants that enjoy full sun and hot climates, so they do well in the home garden in the hot summer months. Home gardeners have four types of peanuts to chose from: Virginia, Runner, Spanish and Valencia. Each peanut type has distinct flavor and size characteristics, but all peanut types require the same soil and planting conditions. Peanuts are the seeds of the plant, which develop underground in response to the pollination of the plant's flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Tiller (optional)
• Sand (optional)
• Lime
• Organic compost
• Garden hose
• Fertilizer
• Clothesline
• Clothesline pins

Instructions

1. Loosen the soil with a shovel or tiller to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. If the soil contains heavy clay, amend the soil with organic matter and sand. Peanut plants require well-draining, loose soil. Crumble any remaining clumps of soil with your hands.

2. Test the soil for pH and to determine the nutrients present in the area. Peanuts require a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and a high calcium content. Add lime to the soil to raise the pH and increase the calcium content. Add other missing nutrients, such as nitrogen, when the soil test determines that the soil is lacking. Whenever possible, rotate peanut plants with heavily fertilized plants, such as corn. The soil should contain the right mix of nutrients from the previous season's corn crop.

3. Break the peanut shells to remove the seeds. Use unroasted, certified-disease-free planting seeds, not seeds sold for eating.

4. Insert the seeds to a depth of 3 inches in sandy soil, or 2 inches in clay soils. Plant in rows placing the seeds 3 inches apart in a single row; space the rows 20 inches apart. Plant from April to early June for the best results.

5. Water thoroughly immediately following planting to encourage seed germination. After fertilization of the blooms, when the pegs that develop into the seed pods are entering the ground, water every day. Water at the ground level, and avoid getting the leaves wet. Withhold water from the plants for two weeks before harvesting.

6. Harvest peanuts 90 to 150 days after planting, depending on the variety planted. Peanuts are mature when the plant becomes yellow. Remove one or two plants from the garden to test for pod maturity before harvesting the entire crop. To harvest, dig around the plant carefully to loosen the soil, and pull the plant from the ground with your hands. Shake away excess soil.

7. Hang the plants upside down from a clothesline with clothespins. Allow the plants to dry in the sun for a week, and then pull the seed pods from the plants.

8. Place the pods in a dry area away from insects and rodents, and allow them to dry for an additional two to three weeks. After this drying time, peanuts are ready for storage, roasting or boiling.

References

• Clemson Cooperative Extension; Peanut; Bob Polomski, et al.; 1999
• Iowa State University; Horticulture and Home Pest News; Growing Peanuts in the Home Garden; Richard Jauron; 1997
• Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology: Growing Peanuts