Cathy Isom gives a few different ways, as well as great tips, about how to grow your own peanuts at home.
Growing peanuts at home is surprisingly easy, as the plants require minimal care and provide a yield large enough to last you the entire year.
When it comes to planting, you have two options: either plant a hulled peanut or shell them first. If you choose to unhull the peanuts, make sure to leave the thin, pink/brown layer covering the seed. This is vital. Otherwise, your seeds won’t germinate. Sow peanut seeds outdoors 1 to 2 inches deep, with around 6 to 8 inches between seeds. The rows should remain at least 8 inches to 3 feet apart to allow each plant room to grow. Loose, well-draining soil is best, so you may need to add sand and compost to loosen the soil condition.
If you’re growing peanuts inside, you can use a large 4-inch-deep plastic bowl. Fill the bowl with moist potting soil. Shell at least four peanuts and place the seeds on the top layer of soil. Cover the seeds with an inch of soil, and the plants should sprout in a few days.
Pea pods are helpful for planting the seeds individually, which can help minimize shock when later transplanting the plants to containers or your garden. Place the plants in a full-sun location.
Don’t wait too long either. If you wait too long to harvest your plants, they’ll sprout. To harvest, pull the entire plant from the ground. Dig around the soil a bit at first to loosen the tubers, and use a tool to help you gently lift the plant from the ground. Lay it out to completely dry with the leaf side on the ground. After it’s dry, pull the peanut shells free. The time it takes for the peanut to dry can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the variety and your location.