How to Grow Peanuts (and Nutty Peanut Facts!)
Updated: Jul. 20, 2021
Peanuts aren't actually nuts and don't grow on trees, but the birds and squirrels in your backyard love to eat them. Learn tips on how to grow peanuts.
Peanuts Don’t Grow on Trees
The most important tip about how to grow peanuts—these tasty snacks are actually legumes that grow underground. Peanuts do not grow on trees, unlike hazelnuts, walnuts and pecans. But squirrels still love to eat them.
Peanuts Need Sun and Sand to Grow
Two things are required to successfully grow peanuts: full sun and sandy soil. Learn more about feeding peanuts to attract birds to your backyard.
Peanuts Require a Long Growing Season
To grow peanuts in the north, start seeds indoors and plant a variety such as Early Spanish that is ready to harvest in only 100 days. Other cultivars need at least 120 frost-free days.
Blue jays love to eat peanuts. Check out the best bird feeders for blue jays.
How to Plant and Grow Peanuts
The peanut is the seed! Place shelled, raw peanuts on top of the soil, cover with an inch more soil and look for sprouts in about 10 days. You can even grow peanuts in containers. Here’s how to make a DIY bird feeder for peanuts.
Don’t Water Peanuts Too Much
Peanut plants need only about 1 inch of water per week. When is the best time to water plants?
Best Types of Peanuts to Grow
There are four major types of peanuts: runner, Virginia, Valencia and Spanish. Valencias are one of the easiest for home growers. Try Tennessee Red and Georgia Red. Discover the 4 best foods for attracting woodpeckers.
How Many Peanut Plants Should You Grow?
A single plant produces around 40 pods and each holds one to four peanuts. Find out which birds prefer peanuts in the shell vs. shelled peanuts.
How Tall Do Peanut Plants Grow?
Reaching up to 18 inches, flowers soon turn downward where they develop the peanuts underground. Psst—these perennial vegetables grow back each year.
Peanuts Need Drying Time After Harvest
Peanuts hold a lot of moisture (25 to 50 percent) when harvested, so hang the whole plant to dry for about 2 weeks. We found 10 fast-growing vegetables you can harvest quickly.
Grow Your Own Peanut Butter
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter. We asked the experts: Can birds eat peanut butter?
Originally Published: July 20, 2021
