How to Grow Peanuts in Georgia

Peanut plants thrive in Georgia, thanks to the long, hot growing season. In fact, 45 percent of all peanuts cultivated in the United States come from Georgia, according to The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Of the four types of peanuts, the runner variety grows best in Georgia because of its drought tolerance and its willingness to grow in a wide variety of soils. Understanding the soil, fertilizer and water needs of peanut plants will make adding them to your garden a snap.

Shovel
Compost
8-8-8 fertilizer
Peanut seeds

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the soil. Loosen moist soil with a shovel and add 4 inches of compost. Mix well until there are no clumps.
- 2
  Apply 1/2 cup of 8-8-8 fertilizer to each 10-foot row. Rake the soil over the fertilizer to make beds 3 feet apart. Let the beds rest for a week before planting.
- 3
  Sow the seeds in April, or three to four weeks after the last frost, when the soil reaches 65 degrees. Plant seeds 1 inch deep with four seeds per foot of row.
- 4
  Control weeds by adding 2 inches of compost. Hand-pull weeds as they appear to prevent damage to the peanuts developing just under the surface.
- 5
  Water weekly. Once the plants start flowering, soak the ground 6 to 8 inches deep and don't let them dry out.
- 6
  Harvest peanuts 120 to 150 days after planting. Dig up yellowing plants and let them dry upside-down in the sun for a day. When hulls are dry, pull them from the plant.

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