Ever thought about growing your own peanuts right at home? Well, I’ve got some great news for you: you don’t even need to go out and buy fancy seed packets. The “seed” is actually just the peanut itself—the little kernel tucked inside the shell. To get your own peanut patch started, all you have to do is tuck a peanut into some soil. Give it the right spot and a little TLC, and you’ll be harvesting your own homegrown snacks in no time!
Peanuts are actually legumes
Even though they have “nut” right there in the name, peanuts aren’t actually nuts at all. They’re actually legumes, making them cousins to beans and peas. What makes them really cool is how they grow: the plant produces flowers above ground, but then the stalks (called pegs) curve down and push into the soil. That’s where the pods develop and ripen underground.
Each shell usually holds one to three kernels, each wrapped in a thin, papery brown skin. Pro tip: let the pods dry out after you harvest them; it makes popping the peanuts out of their shells a whole lot easier.
How to grow peanuts from seed
If you’re ready to try your hand at growing them, you’ll need some dried peanut pods. Wait until right before you’re ready to plant to take the kernels out of the shell. Whatever you do, don’t peel off that thin brown skin! If that skin gets damaged or removed, the peanut might not germinate.
For the best results, I recommend grabbing seeds from a garden center or a reputable seed catalog. You *can* try using raw, unsalted peanuts from the grocery store, but just a heads-up: they don’t always sprout because they aren’t always stored with planting in mind.
Fun ways to use your harvest
The best part about growing peanuts is eating them! You can enjoy them raw or cooked, and they are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:
- Homemade peanut butter
- Savory peanut sauce (perfect for satay!)
- Peanut cake or cookies
- Stirred into a hearty vegetable soup
- Tossed into a crisp autumn salad for some extra crunch