Unlike other nuts, peanuts do not grow on trees. The peanut grows on a plant which flowers above the soil but fruits below it. A farmer usually plants his peanuts in April or May. Once planted, peanut seeds grow into a green, oval-shaped plant which reaches about 18 inches in height when fully mature. Small yellow flowers appear in the lower part of the plant. These flowers pollinate themselves and then lose their petals as the fertilized ovary begin to enlarge. The enlarged ovary grows down and away from the plant forming a small stem which extends to the soil. The embryo begins to develop once underground, growing into a peanut. From planting to harvesting, the growing cycle of a peanut takes 4 to 5 months.

To learn more, visit our Peanut Lifecycle page!