Lyla Lindsey
Peanuts, though often thought of as nuts, are actually a type of legume, part of the pea family. They can be grown at home, either in the garden or in large pots. There are three main types of peanuts grown in Australia: Virginia, Runner, and Spanish. Virginia peanuts have large seeds and an upright bush structure, while Runner types usually grow along the ground and produce medium-size kernels. Spanish peanuts yield small kernels that are commonly used in peanut butter. To grow peanuts, you'll need full sun and well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Sow seeds 30mm deep and 15-30cm apart, keeping the soil moist. Protect young seedlings from pests, pets, and weather until they are established. As the plant grows, mound the soil around its base to provide support and increase peanut production. When the foliage turns yellow, it's time to harvest.
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What You'll Learn
Soil preparation
Once the soil is ready, create a furrow about 5cm deep with a trowel. Space the seeds 10-15cm apart in the furrow, and if you are planting more than one row, allow 60-75cm between rows. After placing the seeds, cover them with soil and gently firm it down with the back of a rake. Water the seeds well, ensuring that the soil is moist but not wet. You can also apply mulch, such as pea straw or lucerne, to retain soil moisture and prevent evaporation.
If you are growing peanuts in containers, choose a quality potting mix and a container that is large enough for the mature plant. A minimum volume of 20 litres is recommended for peanuts. You can also soak the seeds overnight in room temperature water before planting them. Fill your chosen container with the potting mix and sow the seeds directly, covering them lightly and watering gently. Keep the soil moist throughout germination.
It is important to note that peanuts are sensitive to frost, so avoid transplanting seedlings or sowing seeds outdoors until there is no more risk of frost. In cool climates, you can start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last expected frost.
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Planting
Peanut plants are best grown in full sun, so choose a sunny spot in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. If you're growing your peanuts in a pot, position it in full sun and protect it from strong winds. Choose a pot at least 500mm wide and 300mm deep.
Peanut plants need loose, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Prepare the soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to at least a spade’s depth to loosen it, and adding aged animal manure or compost. If your soil is heavy, you can dig in organic matter to lighten it so that the roots can grow freely. Keep the area free of weeds until you're ready to plant.
If necessary, apply Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime and Dolomite to raise the pH level to 6.5 or 7. You can use raw peanuts bought from health food or grocery stores for planting. Just make sure to remove the shell and leave the skin on before planting.
Use a trowel to dig a 30-50mm deep furrow and plant seeds, spacing them 10-15cm apart. If sowing more than one row, allow 60-75cm between rows. Cover the seeds with soil and gently firm it down with the back of a rake. Water well and mulch with organic mulch, like pea straw or lucerne, to help retain soil moisture. If the soil is well-watered, no extra watering is required until the seedlings emerge after 7-10 days.
You can also soak the seeds overnight in room-temperature water before planting. Seeds sown directly in the garden should germinate in around 7-15 days at a soil temperature of 18-22°C. Young seedlings will need protection from pests, pets, and weather until they are established.
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Peanut growth
Peanuts are a type of legume (part of the pea family) and can be grown at home in the garden or in large pots. There are three main types of peanuts grown in Australia: Virginia, Runner, and Spanish. Virginia peanuts have large seeds, an upright bush structure, and are mainly used in the snack food market. They are grown in both dryland and irrigated areas. Runner peanuts usually grow along the ground and are mainly found in irrigated or high-rainfall areas. They produce a uniform, medium-size kernel used in confectionery and manufacturing. Spanish peanuts produce a uniform, small-size kernel used in manufacturing (peanut butter) and confectionery.
To grow peanuts, choose a sunny spot in the garden and enrich the soil with a plant fertiliser. If necessary, apply a liquid lime to raise the pH level to 6.5 or 7. Using a trowel, dig a 5cm deep furrow and plant seeds (raw peanuts with the skin on), spacing them 10-15cm apart. If sowing more than one row, allow 60-75cm between rows. Cover the seeds with soil and gently firm it down with the back of a rake. Water well and mulch with organic mulch to help retain soil moisture. If the soil is well-watered, no extra watering is required until the seedlings emerge after 7-10 days.
As the plant grows, hill or mound the soil slightly against the plant for support and to increase peanut production. Feed fortnightly with liquid plant food. When the foliage turns yellow and the plant starts to die down, it's time to harvest. Dig up the whole plant with a fork, gently shake off the excess dirt, and hang upside down to dry in the sun for 3-4 days or until most of the moisture has evaporated. Strip off the pods and store in airtight containers or remove the shell and eat raw.
Peanut plants can also be grown in containers. Choose a variety recommended for container growing and use a good-quality potting mix. Ensure your container is large enough for mature plants; a minimum of 20 litres is recommended for peanuts. During the growing season, container-grown plants may need additional fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.
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Harvesting
When the foliage turns yellow and the plant starts to die down, it's time to harvest your peanuts. Use a hand fork or trowel to dig around the plant and carefully lift it out of the ground. Shake off any excess soil and hang the plant upside down in a dry, sunny spot for 3-4 days, or until most of the moisture has evaporated.
The peanut pods will then be ready to strip off and store in airtight containers. You can also remove the shell and eat the peanuts raw. Make sure the peanuts are completely dry before storing them to prevent mould.
On a commercial scale, the harvesting process involves cutting the taproot of the peanut bush with a mechanical digger. The bush and pods are then lifted, shaken to remove excess soil, and turned upside down to dry in windrows. Leaving the pods to dry in the sun is cost-effective, but it can be risky due to the possibility of rain, birds, and over-drying.
The second stage of the commercial harvesting process is threshing, which involves removing the peanut pods from the dried bush. Peanuts have a high moisture content when first dug out of the ground, about 40-50%, and this must be reduced to less than 11% before storage to prevent spoilage.
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Peanut types
There are three main types of peanuts grown in Australia: Virginia, Runner, and Spanish. Each variety has distinct characteristics and uses.
Virginia peanuts have large seeds and an upright bush structure. They are grown in both dryland and irrigated areas. This type of peanut is commonly used in the snack food market.
Runner peanuts, on the other hand, typically grow along the ground and are found in irrigated or high rainfall areas. They produce a uniform, medium-size kernel that is widely used in confectionery and manufacturing.
Spanish peanuts yield a uniform, small-size kernel. They are primarily used in manufacturing, such as peanut butter, and confectionery.
When growing peanuts, it is essential to choose a sunny spot in your garden or a pot that is at least 500mm wide and 300mm deep. Prepare the soil by enriching it with fertilisers or organic matter. You can use raw peanuts bought from health food or grocery stores for planting, ensuring the skin is still intact.
Keep the soil moist throughout germination, and water when the soil is dry about 5cm below the surface. As peanuts are legumes, no added fertiliser is necessary if they are grown in well-prepared soil. However, some gardeners apply calcium supplements to aid in shell formation.
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Frequently asked questions
Choose a sunny spot in your garden, ensuring it receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. Prepare the soil by weeding and digging to a spade's depth, then add compost or aged animal manure to enrich the soil. Keep the soil moist but not wet or dry.
Use raw peanuts with the skin on, spacing them 10-15cm apart and covering them with soil. If planting multiple rows, space them 60-75cm apart. You can also soak the seeds overnight in room-temperature water before planting. Water the seeds well, but no extra watering is needed until seedlings emerge after 7-10 days.
When the foliage turns yellow and the plant starts to die down, it's time to harvest. Dig up the plant with a fork, shake off excess soil, and hang it upside down to dry in the sun for 3-4 days. Then, strip off the pods and store them in airtight containers, or eat the peanuts raw.
