Tips for Growing Peanuts

Soil Preparation

• Peanuts need fertile soil but even more important is the quality of the soil. The plants flower above ground but the peanuts develop underground. The plants send out vine-like growth, called pegs, once the flower are pollinated. The pegs penetrate the soil beneath the peanut bush and develop the peanut pods on their ends. Work ½ cup of 8-8-8 blend or another balanced fertilizer into the soil before planting the peanuts. Break up the top 8 inches of soil with a spade, hoe or tiller before you plant to ensure the top of the soil is loose so the pegs can easily penetrate the soil as they begin to form.

Weed Control

• Weeds compete with the peanut plant for sunlight, nutrients and water. The weeds can also prevent the pegs from successfully forming the peanut pods beneath the soil. Weed the bed regularly in the days leading up to peg formation. Pull weeds by hand or cultivate around the plants shallowly with a hoe. Top all cultivation once the plants set pegs, otherwise you may damage the developing peanuts. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants after pegging to prevent weed growth and pull by hand any weeds that do manage to penetrate the mulch.

Irrigation

• Peanut plants require moist soil at all times during the growing season, but especially during flowering. Supply the plants with 1 inch of water a week. Avoid overhead watering, which can compact the soil surface. Overhead watering also leads to wet foliage, which is more prone to disease. Instead, supply water slowly near the base of the plant so it seeps into the soil and penetrates the root system. Mulching after peg formation also helps keep moisture in the soil.

Harvesting

• Since peanuts form underground, it's difficult to determine their maturity without knowing how the upper part of the plant changes near harvest time. Peanut plant foliage begins yellowing and dying back near the end of the season after the peanuts pods mature. Dig up the entire plant, including the pegs and pods, once yellowing begins. Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the plants so you can pull up the plant without breaking the pegs. Hang the entire plant upside down in a dry place for two days before removing the peanut pods from the plant.