Peanuts are surprisingly easy to grow if you live in an area that is relatively dry, and, depending on variety, at least 90 days without frost.

We are talking the warmer USDA growing zones, meaning 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.    Peanuts need at least 90 frost free days, so if you have fewer than that (say in northern New Mexico) you will need to start them indoors. Ideally 100-120 frost free days for peak production.

Peanut Varieties

There are close to 70 species of edible peanut. The ones commonly sold for growing and eating are Arachis hypogaea. This name comes to us from Linnaeus.

Word Nerd Shares

Many scientific names can tell you a great deal about the plant. This is only half true for the scientific name of peanut, Arachis hypogaea. The word “hypogaea” tells us something is inserted below the earth. Comes from hypo = like a hypodermic going below the dermis or skin, and gaea = earth (also sometimes written gaia).

The first half of the name is a bit of a stretch. First you would have had to grow up reading ancient Greek herb books in their native language, like Linnaeus did. Those old herbals talked about a member of the pea family that was used medicinally, the árakhos, known today as a “chickling vetch.” Linnaeus noticed many similarities between that Greek plant and the peanut plant sent to him from South America. Linnaeus Latinized that old Greek name to Arachis.

Arach can also be seen in the scientific name for spiders = Arachnids. Their name is based on the ancient Greek word for webbing. Perhaps the chickling vetch formed a web of baby chick vetches around it – not sure. I do know that the peanut will form a “web” of peanuts around itself in a very cool fashion!

How the Plant Makes Peanuts

As mentioned, the name hypogaea tells you that the peanut develops underground. The plant flowers above ground so the pollinators can find it.  Once it is pollinated, a short stalk at the base of the flower grows to form a pale white “peg.” The peg reaches out from the spent flower petals, and arches towards the ground. It needs to grow into the ground or other dark area. Given that our Southwest soils are tough, I suggest building a mound of mulch around the plant (see below). The peanut will grow underground on the end of the peg.

Peanut Varieties

If you can find a good source of peanut “seeds,” please let me know.  You can say something below in the comments.  Better yet, reply to any Substack newsletter you get from me (free!).  (You are signed up already aren’t you?!)

For my peanut seeds, I usually head over to the Asian market and buy the raw peanuts in the shells in the produce section. I could also save seed of the crop I grow, but I seem to keep forgetting these tasty treats.

If you find a source – choose your peanut variety based on how you want to use your peanuts.    Shelling? Eating whole? Candy?  Boiling? These are the four main categories.

Runners.    These are some of the most common peanuts. The reason is because of their uniform size. Therefore, they are more appealing for marketing purposes.

Virginia. Generally for eating straight out the shell.    The reason they choose these peanuts is because of their size.

Spanish. These are generally smaller in size. They have a red and brown skin on them, and you would most likely recognize them if you ever eat peanut candies (like peanut brittle). Because of how small they are, they are great for candy use.

Valencia. The peanuts left South America and went to Spain, where they were grown in the drier parts of the country. Then they were carried around the world as “Valencia” peanuts. These generally have 3 or more nuts inside each shell.  And yes, Valencia is in Spain, but these are a different variety than the “Spanish” peanuts.

Peanuts Nourish the Soil

Peanuts became famous in the United Stares when botanist, inventor, and “agricultural chemist,” George Washington Carver developed techniques to restore the soils that had been depleted by repeated plantings of cotton. He urged farmers to restore nitrogen to their soils with crop rotation. Alternating cotton crops with plantings of legumes (beans), such as peanuts, soybeans, and cowpeas (more about legumes). Legume crops nourish the soil and are good for human consumption.

To learn more about George Washington Carver, may I suggest the biography written by Rackham Holt in 1943, and recently republished by Greenwoman Publishing. It is a fascinating tale of a man born a slave and then becoming one of the most influential botanists in all of American history.

How to Grow Peanuts

Soil

The plants need well drained soil. This means ideally sandy to loam soils, and not clay. They also prefer an acidic soil pH of 6.0 to 6.9. I have grown them in my alkaline 7.5 soil.

Light

Like virtually every vegetable crop, plants need at least 6 hours of sun per day. In the warmer Low Desert Southwest zones (Phoenix, Las Vegas) some afternoon shade is appreciated.

How to Plant

Plant them once the soil temperature is 65F. If you live in a cooler area, you can start the seeds indoors.

There is much discussion about removing the papery husk or not when planting peanuts. I have had best success pretending I am a squirrel and cracking the outer peanut shell open but then planting the peanuts with the husk still on and resting in the shell. Husk off failed miserably. Shell intact was also a failure. Husk on did okay.

My seat of the pants guess-timate is that planting them with the shell there helped because the fiberous shell absorbed water and helped keep the baby peanut plants moist. Leaving the shell uncracked didn’t work because the seeds couldn’t fight their way free.

Sow Seed

How Deep? Always plant seeds twice as deep as the are fat. Peanuts are about 1 /2 inch fat so plant them about an inch deep. Ideally plant peanut seeds at least 8 inches apart.

I just planted a few plants in the improved soil around the base of my pine tree.    If you’re planting rows of peanuts, make them far enough apart for cultivation (see next step).

Water Regularly

Peanut plants need regular water, but not as much as squash or corn. Indeed, per ounce of protein, peanuts take less water than the equivalent weight of almonds to produce.

Be sure to water peanuts daily at first, and enough so the soil is damp to 1 foot deep, encouraging deep roots.    Once plants are growing, let soil dry somewhat between watering. For me, this means watering two to three times a week. Once plants are mounded (see below), water the soil around the mound, not the mound itself.

Here’s the kicker though – STOP watering 2 weeks before harvest.

Cultivate

Once your peanut plants have reached 6 inches tall it is time to cultivate (loosen the soil) around each plant. This is to make it easier for the plant to spread out and grow.    But BE GENTLE! Peanuts are fairly shallow rooted, so only rake about 1 /2 inch deep.    After loosening the soil, do this:

Mound or Hill the Plants

This basically means to build up a mound of straw or other loose organic mulch around the plants. This is to protect the roots.

Watch Them Grow

After sowing and cultivating, be patient!    Little golden-yellow flowers start only after 6 to 8 weeks after planting. The flowers form along the stem of the peanut plant and reach out barely above the leaves.

Once the flowers are pollinated, the petals wilt and little (microscopic) peanut-shaped ovaries form on the tips of “pegs.”   The pegs grow longer and tunnel their way into the ground. This is why you loosened the soil and placed a mound of soft mulch.

When are they Ready to Harvest?

If you buy peanut seeds from a seed company, the package will tell you “Days to Maturity.”

If you’re like me and find raw peanuts at the Asian market, some checking is required. Might have to dig a bit and check up on them. Look for nicely plump peanuts. Generally after 85 to 130 days of sowing, depending on the variety.

Harvest Your Peanuts

Mark your calendar.    85 to 120 days after planting you can harvest your peanuts.    Cooler zones – you need to do it before the frost hits. Pull up the entire plant and shake off any excess dirt. If no rain or frost is in the forecast – lay them on top of the soil to air dry for about a week before opening and eating. If needed, lay them on sheets of cardboard in your garage (out of frost!). Any soil clinging generally falls off after drying.

Store Your Peanuts

Once your peanuts have dried after harvest, you’ll need to decide how to store them. If you shell them, they will last only a few weeks before the awesome flavor begins to fade.  A tad longer in the refrigerator.

If you leave your peanuts the shells the flavor lasts longer. I vacuum seal them in canning jars in the pantry. You can also place them in freezer bags and into the freezer.    Peanuts should last up to a year in the freezer.

How to Use Your Peanuts

Check out Savor the Southwest for some tasty ways to use what you grow (more than just peanuts!).    I posted a tasty recipe for Spicy Peanuts for snacking.  I did make a mental note to remember to link to it. Yipee – the mental note didn’t get lost!

More Garden Help

May I recommend my book?  The Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Guide offers not just growing guides but some of the latest varieties – including ones specifically for raised bed and container growing. Price is what you would pay on Amazon – only when you buy from me you get a signed copy!

From the review:

“In this updated 2nd edition of Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you’ll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of the southwestern US you call home.

Profits from the sale of this book go to the Arizona-based Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.  

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