Peanuts are legumes that form underground. They are native plants to South America. When choosing to plant peanuts in your garden, there are four varieties to choose from. If you want plants that are low and bushy, plant the Virginia and Runner. For peanuts that are taller and more erect, plant the Spanish or Valencia. You can buy any of these varieties at farm supply stores, garden supply stores or online. Make sure you do not buy roasted peanuts, because they will not germinate. Peanuts are planted early in the spring.
Prepare the Garden Soil
For the best results in growing peanuts in the home garden is to make sure that the soil is loose and well-draining. This means you need to till the ground to a depth of 12 inches. Remove any sticks, rocks or dirt clods that you find, or they will hinder the peanuts from forming underground.
Amend the soil with 4 inches of compost and mix this in thoroughly. If you live in a rural area, add a half-inch of manure into the soil. The compost will help lighten the soil, and the manure will provide nutrients. If you can’t find manure, use a one-half cup of 8-8-8 fertilizer. Allow the garden area to settle for one week before planting. Plant the peanuts when all dangers of frost is past.
Dig the Holes
Dig the planting holes 1.5 to 3 inches deep, spacing them 7 inches apart. When planting peanuts, you can plant the peanut or the entire peanut with the shell covering. The individual peanuts may be planted also as long as the papery outside skin is left on.
Place the peanut at the bottom of the hole and cover with soil. Firm the soil with your fingers. After you have all your peanuts planted, water the soil thoroughly. You will need to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. The peanuts should germinate in l7 days. Pull the weeds as they grow. The roots of the peanuts develop near the surface of the ground, so be careful when removing the weeds.
Watering
Six to eight weeks later, the peanuts will flower. Give them an inch of water every week. If the soil dries out it will reduce the number of peanuts produces, but if the soil is kept too wet, the forming peanuts may begin to sprout.
When the peanut plants are 4 inches tall, place 1 to 2 inches of mulch over the ground. This helps keep the weeds under control, and the soil retains moisture. It takes 120 to 150 days for the peanuts to mature.
Digging and Curing
When the peanut plants have withered and dies, it is time to dig them out of the ground. As you dig each plant out of the ground, shake the plant to remove the dirt. Lay the peanut plants in a well-ventilated area or tie them into bundles and hang them up to dry.
After 14 days, remove the peanuts from the plant and continue to cure them for another 14 to 21 days.Peanuts contain a very mild toxin right after they are pulled from the ground. Do not skip the drying process. This eliminates the toxin before consuming them.
Sources:
“Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening”; J. Rodale; 1959
“Growing Peanuts in the Home Garden”; Charles A. Dunn; 1978