How to Grow Peanuts at Home or on a Farm

Peanuts need a long, warm season of 120–160 frost-free days and loose, sandy soil. After the yellow flowers are pollinated, stalks called pegs grow down into the soil, where the pods develop. Plant raw (unroasted) peanuts after frost, keep the soil loose and well supplied with calcium, and dig the plants in autumn.

Types

• Virginia: large pods, roasted in-shell.
• Runner: high-yielding, for peanut butter.
• Spanish: small, early, good for short seasons (zone 6 and colder).
• Valencia: 3–4 seeds per pod, early.

Planting

Plant shelled raw peanuts 3–5 cm (1–2 in) deep and 15–20 cm (6–8 in) apart in rows 75–90 cm apart, when the soil is at least 18 °C (65 °F). In cool climates, start seeds indoors in biodegradable pots 4 weeks early.

Care

Keep soil loose and weed-free so pegs can enter. Add gypsum at flowering on low-calcium soils. Water about 2.5 cm (1 in) a week, more during pod fill.

Harvest

Dig when leaves yellow and most pods show dark inner hulls, then cure plants upside-down for 1–2 weeks.

All Peanut Growing Guides

• When to plant peanuts
• Planting peanuts
• Peanut soil and calcium
• Peanut pests and diseases
• When to harvest and cure peanuts
• Peanut yield

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you grow peanuts from store-bought peanuts?

Only raw, unroasted peanuts will sprout.

How long do peanuts take to grow?

About 100–160 days depending on the type.

Can peanuts grow in containers?

Yes, in wide containers at least 30–40 cm deep with loose, sandy mix.