Peanuts are generally grown in the southern regions.
Most come from China, India, Nigeria and the southern United States, all of which fall squarely within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. That means those regions have long summers that provide the plants with the up to 150 days they need to mature.
But with a little planning, home gardeners north of Zone 6 can be successful growing peanuts for snacks, peanut butter, and of course, bragging rights.
If you live in a northern region, you can't sow seeds directly and will have to buy seedlings or sow the seeds early indoors (or in your greenhouse if you have one), then transplant them outside 2-3 weeks after the danger of frost has passed.
With that date in mind, find out the date of your first fall frost and calculate if that period will have enough days for your chosen peanut variety to mature. Valencias take 90-110 days, Spanish 90-120 days, and Virginia and Runner varieties 130-150 days. If not, calculate how many extra days (not less than 14 days) they will need to grow indoors and sow your seeds accordingly. Don't reduce the number of days as sowing too early can cause your plants to grow long stems and become stressed.
In my garden on Long Island, NY, I aim for an early April start.
We recommend buying seeds from a specialty garden center or seed catalog. Sure, in theory you could crack and plant raw, unsalted, shelled peanuts you buy at the supermarket, just be careful not to peel off the red seed coat. But there's no way of knowing what variety you're planting, how long it's been in the shell, or what conditions it was planted in.
In zones 8-11, plant seeds outdoors in direct sunlight (a south-facing slope is ideal) between mid-April and mid-June. Loosen the soil and sow seeds 2 inches deep and 10 inches apart in rows 20 inches apart. Keep the soil moist until sprouts emerge, then water weekly with 1 to 1.5 inches of water, including rainwater.
In zones 6 and 7, sow the seeds indoors in individual biodegradable pots about 1 inch deep and place them under grow lights or near the sunniest window. Water about once a week and transplant the entire pot outdoors 2 to 3 weeks later when the soil temperature has warmed to at least 60 degrees and all danger of frost has passed. If you are using starter plants, plant them at the same time.
When the plants are about 1 foot tall, hill up soil around the base of the plants, just like potatoes, and add 2 inches of straw or dry grass clippings all around to encourage “pegging” or underground seed production. These seeds are peanuts, so they will need to be dug up to harvest.
Because peanuts are not actually nuts but legumes like beans and peas, they absorb nitrogen from the air and add it to the soil, so avoid spreading nitrogen fertilizer around the plants.
About 40 days after planting, self-fertilizing yellow flowers appear, and the falling of the petals is a sign that peanut formation, or pegging, has begun underground.
Depending on the variety and growing conditions, about 4-5 months after planting the seeds, the leaves will turn yellow, letting you know it's time to harvest.
Dig up the plant, root and shake off excess soil, then place in a dry, well-ventilated area for 2-3 days to allow the remaining leaves to dry completely. Remove the peanut pods from the roots and roast or store the shelled peanuts in an airtight container. They will keep for about a year.
Jessica Damiano writes a weekly gardening column for The Associated Press and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. Sign up here to receive gardening tips and advice every week.
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