How to Grow Your Own Peanuts

Did you know that peanuts are not nuts at all. Actually, they are the seeds of a leguminous plant related to peas and beans.

 

 

Although considered a southern, warm-weather crop, peanuts have been known to grow as far north as southern Canada.

 Shell four peanuts and place them on top of the soil; then cover with one inch of soil. Plants will sprout quickly. Transplant seedlings outside. To plant outside, place the peanut seeds two inches deep and eight inches apart in loose, well-drained soil.

Planting Peanuts

• Peanuts have a long growing season (ranging from 100 to 130 frost-free days); they’re planted a few weeks after the average last frost date in the spring and often dug up anytime after the first of September.
• It’s important to select a site that receives full sun.
• Plastic row covers are recommended to protect the young plants from spring frosts.
• To grow peanuts, you will actually start with the the shells of fresh, un-roasted peanuts.
• To start inside, fill a large, four-inch-deep plastic bowl ⅔ full of moist potting soil. Shell four peanuts and place them on top of the soil; then cover with one inch of soil. Plants will sprout quickly. Transplant seedlings outside.
• To plant outside, place the peanut seeds two inches deep and eight inches apart in loose, well-drained soil. (Add sand and aged compost to soil to loosen.)

Caring for Peanut Plants

• When the plants are six inches high, cultivate around them to loosen the soil so that the pegs will penetrate it easily.
• Then, hill them as you would potatoes and mulch with two inches of straw or grass clippings.
• Small, yellow, pea-like flowers will develop along the lower part of the stem. After the flowers fade, the ovaries will swell, start to grow toward the ground, and then push into the soil.
• Peanuts are harvested before frost, when the plant yellows.
• Dig out the entire plant with a spading fork, carefully shake off most of the soil, and then hang to dry indoors for about a month.
• The “nut” can be enjoyed raw or roasted to perfection by baking shelled or un-shelled in a 350° F oven for 20 minutes.

Did You Know: It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.

 HOW to COOK PEANUTS

1. Place the oil, peanuts and salt into a wok and stir-fry over medium heat for 2 minutes.
2. Turn the heat down and continue to stir-fry for 4 minutes or until the peanuts turn light golden inside. Remove and transfer to a dish.
3. Cool to room temperature (about 20 minutes) and serve.

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