If you live in a cooler, Northern region, you should start the plants indoors roughly one month before the last anticipated frost. If you live in a warmer, Southern region, you can either plant the peanuts directly outdoors after the last frost or start them indoors a few weeks prior to the last frost.
Note that peanuts used as seeds must remain in their shells until just before planting. Otherwise, they will dry out too quickly and will fail to produce. Never use roasted peanuts. These will not germinate.
If the soil is not already damp, moisten it with a watering can now, before you add the seed peanuts. The safest container to use would be a paper or peat pot since you can place the entire seedling, pot and all, into the ground when transplanting. You could use a plastic bowl or pot if that is your only alternative, though. Make sure that container is clean before you plant the peanuts, especially if you are using a plastic container. Wash it with warm water and soap, rinse well, and dry with clean paper towels.
When shelling the peanuts, make sure that you do not remove the brown paper coating surrounding each nut seed. If you remove this or damage it, the peanuts may not germinate. You could plant the peanuts without removing the shell first, but they will grow quicker if you do remove the shell. If the soil is not moist when you add it, lightly water it with a watering can or spray bottle until it is moist to the touch but not soaked. If planting the seeds directly outside, plant them 2 inches (5 cm) deep and 8 inches (20 cm) apart.
Sun is important for the sake of photosynthesis, but full sun is advised because areas that receive full sun are likely to be the warmest in your garden. Peanut plants thrive in warm soil.
The same guideline applies if you are planting seed peanuts directly into an outdoor plot. Wait several weeks after the last frost passes. Otherwise, the seed peanuts will not germinate. The temperature of the soil should be about 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18. 3 degrees Celsius), at minimum. [3] X Research source
Avoid clay-type soils, which are hard to improve sufficiently. You could use aged compost, as well, but you should limit the amount you use since it could give off nitrogen. This would be beneficial for many plants, but peanuts produce their own nitrogen, and adding more can be too much and ultimately stunt the growth of the plant. You may also need to balance the soil pH if it is too acidic. Do so by adding a small amount of agricultural lime to the soil and mixing it in thoroughly. [4] X Research source
The roots need plenty of room to spread out. Digging into the soil helps to break up any compact areas, ultimately making it looser, and providing the roots the space they need. After digging into the soil, fill in the bottom of each hole with 2 inches (5 cm) or so of the loose soil. Otherwise, you may accidentally plant the seedling too deep. [5] X Research source
Fill in the rest of the hole gently with loose soil. If using a decomposable planter, place the entire thing in the ground. If not, gently squeeze the sides of you container to loosen its contents. Tip the container so that the plant, roots, and soil come out in a clump in your hands. Transfer the entire clump to the outdoor plot. Avoid exposing the sensitive roots. If you planted the seed peanuts directly outdoors, you may decide to plant 2 to 3 seeds at each spot initially. You will need to thin the plants out, though, leaving only the strongest one at each spot.
Note, however, that the soil should not be soaking wet. If puddles are forming on the surface of the plot, you may have added too much water.
The plant will develop runners as it grows, and each of these runners will develop blossoms. The flowers will wilt and bend down, but you should not pick them off. These downward stems are called “pegs. " Your peanuts will grow off of these pegs, and the stems need to find their way underground in order to grow those peanuts. [7] X Research source By making the soil looser, you make it easier for the pegs to get underground.
Doing this provides extra warmth and protection for the peanuts growing on the ends of the buried pegs.
Mulch prevents most weeds from coming up. Additionally, it also keeps the soil warm, moist, and soft. Do not use heavy mulches like wood chips, though. Additional pegs may need to break through the soil, and they will not be able to do so with heavy mulches in the way.
Ideally, peanuts should be given a little water at a time. They do best when the soil is slightly dry on the surface but moist at about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) down. This can be determined by sticking your fingertip into the soil and noting how much of your finger you can insert into the soil before you feel moisture.
Peanuts supply their own nitrogen. Adding more nitrogen to this will produce very bushy plants with thick foliage and little fruit yield. Once the plants begin to flower, you can begin treating them with a fertilizer rich in calcium. Doing so may help maximize nut formation.
Push the fencing 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7. 6 cm) below the ground to protect the peanuts as they grow underneath. Many mice and squirrels will try to dig the plants up after nuts begin forming, and if the netting does not extend below ground, they may succeed.
Spray the leaves with a pyrethrin-based pesticide for best results. If you want to stick to something organic, sprinkle ground red pepper on the leaves, instead.
The plant will turn yellow and begin to wilt when it is ready to be harvested. [9] X Research source Gently dig up the entire plant with your gardening fork, lifting it up from beneath the roots. Shake off most of the soil clinging to the roots. A healthy plant will usually yield about 30 to 50 peanuts.
For the first one to two weeks, let the peanuts cure on the plant as they are in a warm, dry spot. For the remaining two weeks or so, pull the nuts off and let them dry in the same warm, dry spot.
To roast peanuts, bake them in an oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes. To store peanuts, leave them in their shells and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 6 months. If you cannot refrigerate your peanuts, they can stay good for 3 months in a dry, dark storage area. Peanuts can also be frozen for a year or longer.
