How to grow Peanut

Arachis hypogaea

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

A fun crop for a greenhouse or warm patio: after flowering, the stalks dive into the soil and peanuts form underground.

At a glance: Sow mid March to early April, harvest from early September.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow indoors

Plant

Flowers

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Mid March – early April · 5 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover. Sow shelled, raw (not roasted) peanuts 3 cm deep at 20–25°C.
7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Mid March – late March
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 7–14 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 30 cm, or one per 30 cm pot apart when big enough to handle.
14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Early April
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
Late April · 11 days after the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
Early May – early June · 3 weeks after the last spring frost
Plant Out
Plant out 30 cm, or one per 30 cm pot apart and water in well.
45–60 days after “Plant Out” · Mid June – early July
Earth Up Around Pegs
When flower stalks ("pegs") bend down into the soil, loosen the surface and draw a little compost around the plant.
120–141 days after “Plant Out” · Early September – late September
Start Harvesting
When leaves yellow, lift the whole plant and hang it somewhere warm and airy for two weeks.
14–44 days after “Start Harvesting” · Mid September – mid October
Finish and Clear
Pick the dried pods off and roast them.