How to Grow Peanuts for Oil

Prepare the beds where you will be planting your peanut seeds. The ideal soil for growing peanuts is sandy to loamy and has good drainage. Mix into the bed a quantity of compost with a garden fork so the soil is rich in nutrients. Make sure the soil is loose rather than packed down so that the plant can grow without restriction. Choose a site for your peanuts in full sun, as they need a large amount of sunlight.

Sow peanuts outdoors approximately three to four weeks after the average final frost date. The soil needs to have warmed to around 65 degrees Fahrenheit if the peanuts are to grow successfully.

Plant the peanut seeds in their whole shell or in the papery skin surrounding the seed. Make holes in the ground with a stick approximately 2 to 3 inches deep, and space the holes 6 to 8 inches apart. Rows of seeds should be spaced 12 to 24 inches apart.

Create mounds of earth around the base of the plant when the plants are 12 inches tall. This helps the plant bury the pods under the soil for ripening.

Water the plants regularly so the soil stays moist until they flower. Once they have flowered, reduce the amount of water and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.

Mulch the beds using organic matter such as bark. This keeps the soil temperature raised and helps prevent the soil from drying out or going crusty. Weed the beds regularly to keep weeds down.

Harvest the crop when the leaves have turned yellow and are starting to wither. This usually occurs around 120 to 150 days after planting. Use a garden fork to pull up the whole plant and hang up to dry for two weeks before removing the pods. The peanuts can be pressed for oil at this stage.