Peanuts are grown through a unique process where the plant flowers above the ground, but the peanut pods develop and mature below the soil. The growing cycle takes about four to five months, depending on the type and variety. Farmers plant specially grown peanut kernels about two inches deep in well- prepared, loose, sandy soil after the last frost when temperatures reach around 65° to 70°F. The peanut plants grow green with oval leaves and flower above the ground about 40 days after planting. Once pollination occurs, the flower petals fall off, and a structure called a "peg" grows downward into the soil. The peanut pods with kernels develop at the tip of this peg underground. After about 140 to 150 frost-free days, when the plants mature, farmers harvest the peanuts by digging up the entire plants with machinery, then laying them upside down in rows to dry for a few days. The peanuts are then separated from the vines, dried further if needed, and prepared for storage or sale. Peanuts require moderate water, about 1.5 to 2 inches per week, and grow well in calcium-rich sandy soils. They also fix nitrogen in the soil, which enriches the ground for future crops.
