We’re growing peanuts in our New York garden for the first time this year! Read on as we plant Jumbo Virginia peanuts!
Or maybe the title should read “We’re trying to grow peanuts this year!” so I don’t jinx myself. You might have read that we started our 2017 garden a few weeks ago, which is very exciting, but even more exciting is when we try to grow a new plant! This year the new plants are celery and peanuts! This post is all about peanuts though….!
I decided last year I wanted to try to grow peanuts, mostly because I was currently in a peanut butter eating craze. I did some research and saw some people in the North had successfully grown peanuts so I decided to give it a shot. Peanuts need a good 4 months of heat, with no frost, to grow, so let’s hope for a full 120 days of sun for them in our garden!
I bought the seeds from Burpee as they were one of the few companies that sells peanuts. I decided to go with the Jumbo Virginia variety which gives 1 or 2 extra large nuts per pod. It says under favorable conditions a plant should yield 50-60 pods. I planted a entire bag which is 1/2 pound of peanuts.
We sowed them in 3 long rows, next to the potatoes. To harvest them, we need to dig up the plants before frost and then hang them to dry.
So come back in a few months and see if I can make homemade peanut butter! I’ll post a mid Summer update if everything goes as planned. Good luck peanuts!
And because I couldn’t resist… enjoy this video I made while planting! 🙂
Gary and Mia Courtright Sr. says
We were feeding the animals in our back yard here in Nevada. chipmunks, quail, dove, rabbits, pigeons and other small birds. Peanuts were the choice for the chipmunks, but everybody else where eating them too. Next thing we know nice looking green plants started popping up all over the neighborhood. Thak you Chipmunks. This was 3 years ago and we still find peanuts buried in our yard and garden. we did manage to harvest a few also. Don’t water them too much and keep them up on hills, from what we could see the branches lay on the ground blossom and then send down roots were the peanuts grow. I thought that the peanut grew from the main root but this does not seem to be what happens. They grew easy and did not take a lot of water. (we are in a Desert environment, very dry and hot) but they trived in our yard and garden.
Good luck with your peanuts.
Pamela says
Hey Gary and Mia, that is so funny how they just started popping up! Thanks for your advise and hope you keep finding peanut plants!
cakespy says
It probably shows what a black thumb I am that I’m all “YOU CAN GROW PEANUTS” here. I loved reading this!!! I bet they taste wonderful, what with the sense of accomplishment and all!
Paul says
Growing your own nuts is an awesome idea! I hope it goes well this year, I look forward to seeing the progress.
Patrick@looneyforfood.com says
This is super cool
neil@neilshealthymeals.com says
I love that little video of you planting the peanuts Pamela, and how you make a little “bed” for each peanut to go into.
I’d love to do something with our garden here, I just don’t have the time so it’s just a lawn. Could be so much more. I doubt if I’d ever be able to grow peanuts though.
Good luck with yours I’m looking forward to keeping up to see how they’re getting on!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
eeee so exciting!!!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
OMG, SOOOO very cool that you are growing peanuts! For some reason I always forget that’s possible and just think they magically appear. 😉 Can’t wait to see the results! Let me know if you need a taste tester! hehe. Cheers!
Stacy | POP KITCHEN says
Pamela! This is my first time in your blog. I am super impressed in your urban gardening. I have been meaning to get a plot ever since we moved to Toronto, but you know, I’m lazy. Good luck with your peanuts! I feel like NYC is slightly warmer than other northern states so hopefully you’ll get a nice crop.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Oh wow! I couldn’t have thought about growing peanuts. All the very best, Pamela. Would love to see the results. 🙂
Debbie - MountainMama says
Wow, that’s exciting! I never even THOUGHT of growing peanuts! It will be interesting to watch your experiment! I gave up on potatoes after three tries….and three strikes. I’ll buy them at the farmers’ market instead, thank you very much!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
Good luck! My father-in-law tried over here in western NY one year with no luck….. I was excited lol. I’m interested to see your results!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I am really excited to see how these do. I have never thought about growing peanuts, although I’m not certain they would do well here. Keep us posted on the peanut crop!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
Good luck! I am curious about the results.
Denise Tyrrell says
I will be very interested to see how this goes and then give it a go myself. Will have to source some seeds on line. Homemade peanut butter is very alluring ?
Anna Johnston says
I’m super impressed. Homemade peanut sauces and butter, my mind boggles with ideas. Fingers crossed you get 120 days of warmth.
Maria @ kitchenathoskins says
Freshly harvested raw peanuts have a unique and delicious flavor. This is fabulous idea, can’t wait for 120 days:)
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
Genius! I am following Pamela! Very cool! 🙂 Happy Tuesday!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
This is great Pamela…I cannot wait to see the results. I have never grown peanuts before, I would love to give it a try. Oh by the way…love the video?
Have a great week!
Juliana says
Wow…you are amazing Pamela…I look forward to see the results.
Have a wonderful week ahead 🙂
Vanessa says
Can’t wait to see what happens! Good luck!
Sues says
Ooooh homemade peanut butter would be so amazing! Good luck! Also, I thought this was another pregnancy announcement since you’re growing another kind of peanut, too 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
This is awesome! I never would have thought to grow my own peanuts but the peanut butter addict in me is thinking it might be worth a shot 🙂
Pamela says
Totally, try it Kelsie!
Sheryl A Sawyer says
Good luck to you.I’m very curious to see if you have enough time in your area.I am in 5a not sure if I would be brave enough to try.Love everything about peanut butter.
Pamela says
Hey Sheryl, I’m in 5A too! I’ll let you know how it goes… stay tuned to the adventures of peanut growing!