Peanuts grow through a unique process that involves both above-ground and underground development:
- First, peanut seeds (the peanuts themselves) are planted about 2 to 5 cm deep in warm, well-drained soil, usually in late spring after the last frost when soil temperatures reach around 65°–70°F (18°–21°C)
- The seed germinates and sprouts, producing stems and oval-shaped green leaves that grow above ground. The plant reaches about 18 inches tall and flowers above ground
- After flowering, the plant produces special stem-like structures called "pegs" at the base of the flowers. These pegs grow downward, burrowing into the soil
- At the tip of each peg, a seed pod forms underground. These pods mature beneath the soil surface, where the peanuts develop inside the pods
- The peanuts take about 4 to 5 months to mature underground. When the plants have yellowed and died back, usually in late summer or early fall, farmers harvest the entire plant by pulling it from the ground, exposing the pods
- The plants are then dried in the field and further cured to stabilize the peanuts for consumption or processing
This growth cycle is unusual because, unlike many nuts, peanuts are legumes and their edible seeds develop underground, despite the plant itself growing above ground
. In summary, peanuts start as seeds planted in warm soil, grow into leafy plants that flower above ground, then send pegs underground where the peanut pods form and mature before harvest
