Has anyone ever grown a peanut plant?

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I am a farm educator and I want to grow some peanut plants in pots for a program I am hoping to do. Has anyone ever done this or even grown peanuts in the garden? I have gotten information from the Peanut Council and instructions so I know it can be done. Just looking to see what experiences others have had.

Thanks, Karen

-- Karen (karenVF@aol.com), February 24, 2001

Answers

I have grown peanuts, and found them easy to grow.

I don't know how well you will get along with growing them in pots. You see, they produce what might be called runners, and on those runners are "pegs" that need to be covered with dirt. The dirt covered pegs are where the peanuts form. Just have a pot large enough to accomodate the runners and it should work.

I assume that you will get shelled peanut seed to plant, otherwise, shell and plant unroasted raw seeds. There is some belief that you must not break the skin of the individual peanut when you plant it. Since peanuts are a legume, you may wish to "innoculate" prior to planting with material for that purpose. The innoculate will boost the ability of the plant to fix nitrogen. Good luck.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), February 24, 2001.


one of my fondest memories,, cub scouts,,, did it to get a badge. Bought raw peanuts,,, planted em,,, and they grew,, even in Mich,, transfered to the garden. Even got enough to harvest,,was amazed at the amout we got. Dont know if it was a good year for them,, or just a kids memory,,but was fun

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 24, 2001.

I have grown peanuts in my northern Indiana garden. Received a poor harvest. Peanuts are a southern crop. But it was something different to try.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), February 24, 2001.

Raised peanuts 2 years ago in the garden here. Still have about 15 lbs of 'em! They grew great, but Stan is right they grow better in the south. Had a lot that didn't develope fully. They have a pretty yellow flower and nice dark green foliage. Get a big pot and give 'em room.

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), February 24, 2001.

Sorry, that wasn't Stan was it? BTW, where in N. Indiana "R" you?

-- John (jsmengel@hotmail.com), February 24, 2001.


I grew up in the south and one of the treats I remember was boiled peanuts. You pulled the whole plant before it was completely mature, harvested the whole nut, shell and all, rinsed them then boiled them in salted water. If you think roasted peanuts are good and you can't eat just a few, try them boiled. It might be a good way to use up those that don't completely mature.

It's been a long time since I had these so if I've left out any steps, those of you with better memories, please fill in the gaps.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), February 24, 2001.


I had bare spots in my lawn 2 years ago that absolutely wouldn't grow grass, so I went to Winn Dixie, bought a bag of raw unshelled peanuts and stuck them into the ground. They got watered 2-3 times a week during our dry season. They grew nicely and the grass did then begin filling in. Before that our garden yields had been going downhill and finally nothing grew, we let the garden lie fallow a year, then went to Winn Dixie, bought raw unshelled peanuts and completely covered the garden area. They grew nice and shaded out the weeds, and a year later we got good crops again, although it took three years before the last occasional peanute stopped showing up. You would need, I think, a very broad pot but they grew real nice in this acid sand s floridians call soil.

-- Mitzi Giles (Egiles2@prodigy.net), February 24, 2001.

I grew them as a kid too.It was one of those souvenir kits my Dad got me when he was on one of his trips for the government.They sprout ok and send out runners.What I did was to keep the plant in the origional pot and then give the runners their own pots to grow in.It worked ok.

-- greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), February 25, 2001.

my second posting and what a neat site folks!! now for the peanuts. here in sc we have the sandy soil and when they start blooming we dust them real heavy with land plaster(powderd lime) maybe for the project a couple tires would work and give enough room for the runners. I have 2 pots I made out of old race car tires I raise tomatos in. just cut one side out lay flat on the ground and add dirt the bottom side is open so it has plenty of drainage.

-- lee lynn (dusty29541@yahoo.com), February 25, 2001.

Thanks to all for the responses to my post here ont he peanuts. As soon as I get the seeds I ordered I will start them under lights in my basement then move them to the greenhouse in April. I am on Long Island, in NY. I will eventually put them in a large pot. I am hoping a muck bucket will be large enough as I need to take the plant on outreaches to schools, libraries etc. Do you think that will be large enough for the runners to get into also?

Thanks again,

-- Karen (karenVF@aol.com), February 26, 2001.



Growing peanuts in Virginia is not difficult, but I think the comment about them being more successful in the south than in the north is really about the length of growing season rather than temperature. They take a long time to produce the peanuts and in northern climates the frost can get the plants before the peanuts mature. But it sounds like you are getting an early jump on planting so you shouldn't have any problem.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 26, 2001.

You might try planting your peanuts in a clear container, so the kids can see the nuts forming. I'd go ahead and put them in their permanent pot, rather than transplanting. One of the clear containers that the grocery store bakeries sell cakes in would be perfect. Leave enough room in the top to add a bit of soil to cover the runners.

-- Dan G. (Stagecoach@hotmail.com), February 27, 2001.

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