Arachis

( AIR - uh -kiss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, famous for the Peanut, is native to South America and includes plants that are great soil conditioners, livestock fodder, or edible crops. Once pollinated, flower stems of these plants will extend down into the soil and form rough pods that enclose edible seeds. World peanut production totals around 45 million metric tons each year, with China, India, Nigeria, and the United States as the largest exporters of the crop. These plants can also serve as fantastic cover and groundcover crops. Take care when planting Peanuts in your garden, as some individuals have peanut sensitivity, and can experience anaphylaxis from exposure.

Arachis Species and Varietals

The genus Arachis is a member of the plant family Fabaceae, and includes around 460 species. Arachis plants can be grown in any zone; To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Arachis batizocoi (Wild Peanut)
Native to Paraguay and Bolivia, this species is mainly used to make genetic improvements to the commercially grown peanut species, Arachis hypogaea, including resistance against late leaf spot and groundnut rosette disease, as well as producing larger seeds and higher yields. This species is considered a wild Peanut.

Arachis duranensis (Arachis argentinensis) (Wild Peanut)
A species used to develop stronger genetic resistances and resiliencies in cultivated Peanut species and varietals. Native to South America, specifically northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It is not commercially or widely cultivated.

Arachis glabrata (Creeping Forage Plant, Rhizoma Peanut, Perennial Forage Peanut, Ornamental Peanut Grass)
This is a high-quality perennial forage plant native to Brazil and Argentina used for soil conservation purposes as well as ornamental ones. These plants reach between 12 and 16 inches tall at maturity and produce yellow-orange flowers.

Arachis hypogaea (Peanut, Goober, Groundnut, Goober Pea, Pindar, Monkey Nut)
This species is a very important one commercially as a grain legume and for its edible seeds. Because of its high oil content, it is also a widely grown oil crop as well. This species of peanut is a perennial, though it is often grown as an annual in cooler zones. Cultivars are listed and described below:

Spanish Group
Grown in Africa and the southeastern U.S., this group of small peanuts with high oil content. Varieties include 'Dixie Spanish', 'Argentine', 'Spanette', 'Starr', 'Florispan', 'Spancross' and 'Wilco I'.

Runner Group
This group has great flavor and roast-ability, many of these cultivars are used for peanut butters and roasted nuts. Varieties include 'Dixie Runner', 'Bradford Runner', 'Rhodesian Spanish Bunch', 'Florunner', and 'AT-108'.

Virginia Group
Growth habit is either bunching or running, and are wonderful, large peanuts great for roasting shelled, salting, and in confections. Varieties include 'Gregory', 'Wilson'. 'Hull'. and AT VC2'.

Valencia Group
Wonderful sweet boiling peanuts, these varieties are usually sold in the shell as a snack food. Varieties include 'Valencia A' and 'Valencia C'.

Tennessee Red and Tennessee White
Great as boiling peanuts, these are usually sold in their shells as a snack. Pods are rough and irregular.

Arachis monticola (Wild Peanut)
This species is a close relative of the domesticated peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and is thought to be a wild ancestor, through it could also be a more recent, weedier-form descendant. Plants reach up to 18 inches tall when mature and in bloom and produce yellow flowers.

Arachis pintoi (Pinto Peanut, Forage Peanut, Peanut Grass, Perennial Peanut)
This tropical perennial forage plant is a Brazilian native and reaches between 8 and 20 inches tall at maturity. Leaves are green and flowers are yellow. The species is named for Geraldo Pinto, the botanist who collected the first specimen. Varieties include 'Amarillo' and 'Mani Forrajero Perenne'.

Arachis repens (Peanut Grass, Creeping Peanut)
This species is used as both an ornamental and as a forage plant in its native range in Brazil. Foliage is green, taking on maroon hues when cooler temperatures set in. Creeping Peanut is great for spilling over walls or the sides of containers, and also can serve as a groundcover. Individual plants reach between 6 and 12 inches tall and wide.

Caring for Arachis

Take care when planting Peanuts in your garden, as some individuals have peanut sensitivity, and can experience anaphylaxis from exposure. These plants require specific care to ensure healthy growth and good yield. Peanuts thrive in warmer climates, and need a long growing season (between 120 to 150 frost-free days) to produce a successful harvest. A good way to extend the growing season in cool-weather areas of the globe is to grow these plants in containers. The ideal temperature range for these plants is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant peanut plants in a place in the yard that receives at least 8 hours (ideally between 8 and 12) of direct sunlight each day. Ideally, soil should be well-draining and sandy-loamy. Peanuts prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH (between 6.0 and 7.0 is sufficient for growth). Ensure that heavy soils are amended with plenty of organic material before planting; Peanut plants do not appreciate having wet feet, and will develop issues in waterlogged conditions. Apply mulch around the base of these plants to increase soil moisture retention, insulate soil, and suppress weed growth. These plants need regular waterings once installed, maintaining consistent soil moisture especially during flower and pod development periods. Reduce waterings slowly as pods mature to prevent them from rotting out. Ensure that the area where peanuts are grown is free of weeds as they grow, to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Pruning these plants is not necessary, though if peanut plants are used as ornamental groundcovers that stay in the ground year after year, they will need to be controlled, as they do produce stolons and will spread indefinitely.

Harvesting Peanut Plants
A single Peanut plant can produce between 25 and 50 pods, with each pod containing between 2 to 4 peanuts. Peanuts are typically ready for harvesting when the leaves on plants begin to yellow and dry out, which usually occurs between 4 to 5 months after planting. To harvest, pull up the entire plant from the ground and lay it on the ground. Leave it out to dry for a few days before removing the pods from the plants. This will help to prevent mold and spoilage of the nuts. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place and consider using airtight containers for storage to prevent insect damage. Peanuts can last up to a year or a little longer; when they take on a bitter flavor, discard them.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Arachis can be propagated easily from seed. To propagate your Peanut plants, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Arachis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Peanut plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and roots when plants are pulled up from the ground. Peanuts are typically ready for harvesting when the leaves on plants begin to yellow and dry out, which usually occurs between 4 to 5 months after planting. To harvest, pull up the entire plant from the ground and lay it on the ground. Leave it out to dry for a few days before removing the pods from the plants. Next, remove the pods from their attachments and the peanuts from the pods. If peanuts have been treated in any way (if they have been roasted or otherwise flavored for consumption) they are no longer viable and cannot be planted with the expectation of a plant growing, as they will not germinate. Seeds should be plump and mold-free.
Soak peanuts overnight in a bowl filled with lukewarm water to jumpstart the germination process before sowing.
Peanuts can either be direct-sown or transplanted out. If starting indoors, sow 3-4 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Plant seed 1 to 2 inches deep and sow 6 to 8 inches apart, leaving 24 to 36 inches of space between rows. Soil should be between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit before seeds are planted for proper germination. If starting seeds indoors, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about an inch or two under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7 to 18 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings can be planted out into the garden in three to four weeks after sowing (in late spring or early summertime).