Painless Botany Lesson: Growing Peanuts

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Painless botany lesson: growing peanuts

"For the fun of it!" That's what gardeners told us when we asked why they grew peanuts. And most dedicated peanut growers said home-grown ones taste fresher than purchased kinds, too. They're also a great summer project for children.

The large seeds are easy to poke into the soil, and plants require little care. Kids find it fascinating to discover how the nuts develop.

Whatever your reason for trying peanuts, you'll find that they're simple to grow and very rewarding. Each nut produces a sprawling vine 1 to 2 feet tall with 30 to 60 pods per plant. The longer the growing season, the bigger the harvest.

Peanuts grow best in warm, humid climates, but you can get a good harvest in any area with a long growing season-- even in cool coatal climates. …