Growing Peanuts in Containers: An Ultimate Guide To Planting

Growing peanuts in containers is quite fun and an easy process. These plants need enough space for their roots to grow, and they also need a long summer season for their nourishment. But with the right techniques, you can grow peanuts in a container.

Read this article until the end to learn how to plant peanuts in a container.

How To Start Growing Tasty Peanuts in Containers?

To start growing tasty peanuts in containers, the first step is to choose a container that’s large enough, fill it with moist soil, add peanuts on the top, cover them with soil, and the plant will begin to grow soon.

Continue to add soil around the stems of the plant as it grows, just like you would for potatoes, until you reach the top of the container.

1. Choose a Container for the Peanut Plants

A good container is the base of plant nourishment. You may use a container that is easily accessible to you, i.e., ceramic pots, buckets, and plastic containers. To decide on the ideal container for your peanut plant, consider its depth.

For optimal growth of peanuts, choose a container that is at least 12-24 inches deep since the pods typically develop 2-4 inches under the soil. A large container will provide enough room for the plant to grow.

The next point to consider is a drainage hole at the center of the container. A drainage hole will save the plant from drowning when it rains. Moreover, the hole will save the peanuts from getting stuck in soggy soil or standing water.

Another step to protect plants from rainwater is placing a tray with multiple holes beneath the container. Putting the container over a plastic bag with soil is also an excellent way to drain the water immediately.

2. Select a Proper Location for the Plant to Grow

Now that you have chosen your ideal container for the plant’s growth, the next step is to choose an ideal location for the plant to grow. Peanuts are tropical plants that need warm and humid weather to grow.

Make sure that your plant receives sunlight throughout the day. At least six hours of warmness is essential for the peanuts’ growth. The ideal growing season for the peanut plant is the summer season.

But if you want to grow peanut plants in winter, start by growing peanuts indoors. Don’t expose the plant to windy weather at the start. First, harden them inside before putting them outside in the spring.

3. Fill the Pot With Good Quality Soil for the Peanuts

After choosing an ideal container and a perfect location, creating the right soil for the peanuts is next. You can go for making your own pot mixture if you want. Good quality soil will prevent your plant from drowning.

Fill the pot with one part sand and two parts soil. If you want to analyze the quality of your soil mixture, check its pH. The pH of ideal soil ranges from 6.0 to 6.5. Whether your soil mixture is ready-made or prepared at home isn’t that important, but it should be rich in nutrients, as many nutrients will help the plant grow well.

4. Sow the Peanut Seeds in the Soil Mixture

Learning how to grow peanuts from seed is not hard, but you do need to consider a few things. Sowing the peanut seeds in the soil mixture may sound easier, but it’s trickier. It is extremely essential to sow the seeds in the soil mixture as soon as you open the shell. If you leave them open in the environment, they will lose their effect.

Don’t put them on top of the soil without covering them. First, dig the mixture and then sow the seeds at a depth of around 1.2 inches. Then, cover them properly with a soil layer. The last part is to water the seeds immediately after sowing them, and your plants will grow out soon.

You might wonder, “Is it legal to grow peanuts?” Well, in some states, it might be illegal to grow peanuts commercially without a license, and some varieties might be protected by law, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sow a few peanut seeds at home. You can check your local laws to be sure.

5. Grow Your Peanuts at the Right Temperature

You may either be living in a cold region or a hot region. The peanuts grow in both, but the terms and conditions differ. Plant the peanuts indoors thirty days before spring if you live in a colder region.

After burying the seeds in good soil, water them and keep them in a warm area. The seeds may take seven to fourteen days to grow if the terms and conditions provided are right.

If you live in a warm region, you need not worry about the plant’s growth, as peanut plants grow well in high temperatures. A minimum of 70 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for the plant’s growth. It is ideal if the temperature is up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

We have a tip for you to grow peanuts well. Among multiple peanut varieties, i.e., runner peanuts and Virginia peanuts, choose early maturing ones. They will take one hundred days to grow rather than one hundred and thirty days.

6. Water Your Plant Regularly

Watering your plant regularly is crucial for its growth and development. Peanut plants require consistent moisture but not waterlogged soil. Keeping the soil evenly moist is important, especially during the hot and dry summer months when the plant requires more water.

Watering your plant deeply once or twice a week is recommended, depending on the weather conditions and the soil’s moisture level. To avoid diseases, ensure to water the soil around the plant’s base, not the foliage.

Avoid excessive watering as it can lead to root rot and other issues. Monitor the soil’s moisture level and adjust your watering frequency accordingly. Your peanuts will thrive and produce a bountiful harvest with proper watering and care.

7. Add Fertilizer to Your Peanuts

Fertilizers provide the necessary nutrients the plant needs to thrive, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It is essential to add nutrients to the container while growing peanuts.

It is important to follow the fertilizer packaging instructions and not over-fertilize the plant, as this can cause damage to the roots and reduce the yield. In addition to the fertilizer, compost tea is also good for peanuts. You may use both to ensure good growth of the plant.

8. Harvest Your Peanuts

When the plant has matured and the leaves start to yellow and wilt, it is time to harvest the peanuts. The first step before harvesting peanuts is to stop watering the plants a few days before the harvest to dry the soil. Use a fork or spade to carefully remove the dirt around the plant for digging out the peanuts.

After lifting the plants out of the pod, remove the dirt around the peanut pods without harming them. Separate the pods from the plants and ventilate them for a week or two.

9. Store Peanuts in a Cool Place

After harvesting your peanuts, it is important to properly store them to keep them fresh and prevent spoilage. Store the peanuts in a cool, dry, dark place, such as a pantry or cellar, away from moisture and sunlight.

If growing peanuts in a bag is not feasible, storing them in one is. You can store the peanuts in a mesh bag or a breathable container to allow air circulation. Avoid storing peanuts in plastic bags or containers, as this can catch moisture and cause the peanuts to become moldy or rotten. With proper storage, your peanuts can last for several months.

10. Enjoy Container-Grown Peanuts

After sowing, caring for your crop, and harvesting it, you deserve to enjoy it. Everyone loves homegrown fresh peanuts as they are rare in the market. You can share it with your family by gifting it to them as a special gift. Multiple peanut products can be made at home with it, i.e., peanut butter.

Conclusion

Many people decide to grow peanuts in a container, but only a few are successful. We don’t want to be among those who fail, and that’s why we have summarized the whole article into easily remembered points.

• Pick a container that is big enough to create an ample harvest.
• Place your plant in a sunny area to keep it warm.
• Store your peanuts in a cool, airy place for a few weeks before eating them.
• Growing peanuts in containers can be challenging due to various diseases and pests affecting the plants’ growth and productivity.
• Use disease-resistant peanuts to keep your crop protected.

We hope this knowledge has helped you well and that you know how to start peanut-producing containers soon. So, when are you planting peanuts in containers?