Peanut Lifecycle
Farmers plant the seeds
In Georgia, peanuts are planted after the last frost in April through May, when the soil temperatures reach 65-70 degrees. Farmers typically plant specially grown peanut kernels from the previous year’s crop about two inches deep, approximately one to two inches apart in rows. Georgia farmers typically plant over 650,000 acres of peanuts every year.
Seedlings Crack the Soil
Peanut seedlings rise out of the soil about 10 days after planting. They grow into a green oval-leafed plant about 18-inches tall. Unlike most plants, the peanut plants above the ground, but fruits below ground.
Flowers Appear
Yellow flowers emerge around the lower portion of the plant about 40 days after planting. When the flowers pollinate themselves, the petals fall off as the peanut ovary begins to form. The peanut flower is a perfect flower, with male and female parts in the same flower.
"Pegging" Begins
A budding ovary on a peanut plant is called a “peg.” The peg enlarges and grows down and away from the plant forming a small stem which extends to the soil. The peanut embryo is in the tip of the peg, which penetrates the soil. The embryo turns horizontal to the soil surface and begins to mature taking the form of a peanut. The plant continues to grow and flower, eventually producing some 40 or more pods. From planting to harvesting, the growing cycle of a peanut takes four to five months, depending on the type and variety.
Harvest time
Approximately 120-150 days after planting, the peanut is at full maturity. Peanut harvest starts in September and continues through October in Georgia. The farmer must wait until the soil is not too wet or not too dry before digging. When conditions are right, the farmer drives a digger up and down the green rows of peanuts. The digger pulls up the plant and gently shakes the excess soil off, rotates the plant and lays it back down with the peanuts facing up and the leaves down. The peanuts will stay in the field 2-3 days to dry. After drying in the field, a combine separates the peanuts form the vine, placing the peanuts in a hopper on the top of the machine and depositing the vines back into the field.
To Your PLate
At the sheller, the peanuts are cleaned, dried, inspected and graded. From the sheller, the peanuts either go to commercial use or are accepted for storage. It is common for peanuts to be sent to a processor after visiting the sheller. These companies set up contracts with various peanut butter companies, confectioners or snack companies and prepare the peanuts for the food company to use for their products. These manufacturers make the peanuts into some of our favorite American foods– peanut butter, peanut candy, peanut snacks and other peanut products.