The peanut plant has a truly unique growing habit.
The peanut clusters are the fruit that forms at the ends of these pegs.
Peanuts are toxic to humans who have peanut allergies.
Pulling a peanut plant from the groundKritsada Petchuay / Getty Images
For this reason, peanut plants are most productive inUSDA hardiness zones8-11.
Peanut plants don’t need a support structure.
Peanut Care
Light
Peanuts need full sun for at least eight hours per day.
Avoid poorly drained and hard clay soil.
Water
Peanuts need about 1 inch of rain or irrigation per week during the growing season.
Watering is most critical immediately after planting to ensure germination and establishment of the seedlings.
Stop watering the plants 10 days to two weeks before harvesting.
Wilting or yellowing leaves mean you’re watering the peanut plant too much.
When watering, avoid wetting the leaves and use drip irrigation if possible.
The soil should be moist but not saturated.
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal growing temperature for peanuts is between 86F and 93F.
Higher temperatures may lead to flower damage.
Fertilizer
Peanuts needcalciumin the upper 6 inches of the soil where the pods grow.
Amendment with bone meal or another source of calcium at the time of planting can help with this.
Peanuts are a legume thatfixes its own nitrogenin the soil if rhizobium bacteria are present.
Therefore, peanuts do not need additional nitrogen fertilizer.
The bacteria enhance nitrogen in the soil through a chemical reaction in the peanut plant’s roots.
Using a peanut inoculant correctly means the peanut plants will reap a healthy, abundant crop.
When you harvest the peanuts, the soil must be dry.
Tip
A peanut plant generally produces between 30-40 nuts, and each pod should contain two peanuts.
The pot should be 18 to 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep with drainage holes.
Place in a spot with full sun and water so the soil is consistently moist but not saturated.
When the seedlings reach 4 to 6 inches, pick the healthiest plant and thin out the other two.
Since peanuts are grown as annuals, they will need to be replanted each spring.
Leaf-feeding insects may include armyworms andcaterpillars.
Common diseases are leaf spot, rust, blight, and viral diseases.
To help identify what is harming the plants, seek assistance from your local university extension office.
They will also suggest the best remedies for the ailments.
Peanuts are easy to grow in areas with at least 100 to 150 frost-free days to reap a harvest.
Most peanuts take five months to grow, but some varieties take about three months.
In southern climates,plant them after the last frostfor a late summer or fall harvest.
Peanuts are annuals that are ready to harvest after 150 days.
When harvested, the entire peanut plant gets pulled out of the ground.
New seeds are planted each spring.
Peanuts dont transplant well.
To prevent damaging the roots, use fiber pots, which are planted with the seedlings outdoors.
North Carolina State Extension.
Reminder of Importance of Inoculation for Nitrogen Fixation, Peanut Notes No.
3, 2023.North Carolina State University.
Why Self-Pollination Is A Good Thing For Peanut … And Us.
