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Peanut plants are popular plants to grow in home gardens as they’re easy to grow. They resemble legumes and beans more than other nuts and should be grown in the hot summer months. If you’re growing peanuts, you’ll need to find them a proper place where they can achieve optimal growth.
Peanut plants need full sun for at least 8 hours daily to grow optimally. They grow best in hot temperatures and direct sunlight, so avoid planting them in shady areas or indoors. Direct sunlight will result in fast-growing, healthy peanut plants.
This article will discuss the optimal temperature, climate, and other growing conditions for peanut plants. It will also give you helpful tips to maintain them properly for faster harvesting. Keep reading.
Where Should I Plant Peanut Plants?
You should plant peanut plants in a warm spot with plenty of sunlight and regular water. The soil should be sandy but rich in organic substances such as leaves, compost, or well-rotted manure. Don’t plant peanut plants close to walls or damp spaces; they don’t thrive in such conditions.
You should also be careful about exposing your plants to frost and low temperatures.
What Temperature Is Optimal for Growing Peanuts?
Peanut plants grow predominantly in the warm regions of the America, Africa, South America, and Asia, where there are around 8 hours of sunlight a day. However, peanut plants can grow in almost all regions. They’ve even been reported to grow in the southern regions of Canada.
86 to 94°F (30 to 34.44°C) is the optimal temperature for growing peanuts. The lowest temperature you can produce peanuts is 56°F (13.33°C), and little to no production can occur at lower temperatures.
You need to keep peanut plants frost-free for a minimum of four months and about the same amount of time at the optimal temperature of 86°F (30°C). Doing this will provide your peanut plants with the best possible chance of reaching maturity.
Can I Plant Peanut Plants Indoors?
You may plant peanut plants indoors, but doing so is not advised as it’s extremely hard to do it successfully. However, it’s perfectly fine to grow peanut plants in a greenhouse with a controlled environment where you can monitor the temperature, soil temperature, water level, and pests.
It isn’t easy to provide peanut plants with the amount of sunlight they need when growing them indoors. If you live in a colder region, greenhouses provide your peanut plants with the warmth and controlled environment needed for their optimum growth.
What Soils Do Peanut Plants Grow In?
Peanut plants grow in sandy soils that drain well but are also loamy. Organic matter in the soils is also good for your plants, but you need to ensure that it doesn’t give off nitrogen because peanuts produce their own nitrogen.
A mixture of sandy soil and aging compost will give you the perfect growing condition for peanuts.
Sandy soil is better because compacted soil does not provide the peanut seedlings with enough space to grow freely underground. Before planting, the ideal soil temperature is around 65°F (18.33°C), and the pH level should be between 6 and 6.5.
You can start by planting your peanut plants in containers for the first few weeks before transferring them to your garden. Just make sure that you don’t over-water them and provide them with adequate sunlight.
When Is the Best Time To Plant Peanut Plants?
The best time to plant peanuts is around the first week of May when the soil is warm. You can plant peanut trees anytime between late April and early June, but planting anytime after that won’t leave enough time for your peanut plants to grow.
How To Plant Peanut Plants
Once you’ve determined when you want to plant your peanut plants, it’s time to plant the seeds. Here are steps for planting peanut plants:
- Plant the seeds 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 cm) deep and 7 to 8 inches (17.78 to 20.32 cm) apart. Doing this will allow enough room for your peanut plants to grow.
- Water your plants every week. Peanuts need an inch (2.54 cm) of rain or irrigation a week. The most important time to water your plants is after planting till after germination and then in the last phase of the growing cycle.
- Give your peanut plants a few weeks to grow. After the first few weeks, you can add a thin layer of straw to keep pests under control.
- Make sure to uproot weeds around your plants twice a week. Doing this helps prevent them from stealing precious minerals and sunlight.
Harvest Peanut Plants Between 120 and 150 Days After Planting Them
Your peanut plants will let you know when they’re ready for harvesting. The leaves turn yellow, and you can harvest them by pulling the whole plant out of the ground. It can take between 120 and 150 days after planting for your peanut plants to be ready for harvesting.
If the peanuts are firm and dry, it means that you have harvested them at the right time. If not, you should spread the peanuts out in a tray and let them dry in a sunny area for 2-3 weeks.
How Do I Protect Peanut Plants From Pests?
Squirrels, chipmunks, and other critters will be the primary pests for peanut plants. Some types of insects and worms can also affect your peanut pants. However, insects and worms will avoid targeting peanut plants in most cases.
Protect peanut plants from pests (especially larger ones) by placing a wire mesh around the plants. You can also use insecticide to prevent insects from damaging your peanut plants. However, insects will rarely target these plants.
Peanut plants can be hardy, and most pests will avoid the leaves. However, peanuts are a snack for most critters, so use wire mesh if your plants are exposed to these pests.
Final Thoughts
Peanut plants are easy to grow in home gardens and are hardy plants. These plants grow in full sun and hot temperatures. After 4 to 5 months of planting, they usually give fruits packed with nutrition and protein.
To properly care for your peanut plants, make sure they’re planted in the best soil, water them regularly, and protect them from pests. Within a few months, you’ll have your own homegrown peanuts!
