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Peanuts ( groundnuts ) planting diary

The following datas were obtained from a real test planting in a tropical country. The planting was started during a light rain season in the middle of November. Harvest of the peanuts was at the end of March.
The test planting gives some hints about the planting shedule for peanuts, for example when to start the planting and how the plants develop and how long it takes until the new peanut pods can be harvested.

During the first month ( day 1 - day 30 ) :

Day 1: Planting of the peanut seeds.
The seeds were planted about 3 cm deep in soft soil. Planting area 50 cm by 50 cm with 18 seeds ( from 9 pods).

Day 7: The first new peanut plant sighted. Plant height is already about 5 cm.

Day 11: 2 more new plants visible with each about 2 cm height.

Day 26: Some peanut plants are grown up to about 25 cm height. In total now are 11 plants growing. But some of them are still only about 10 cm high.

Day 29: First peanut flower sighted.

During the second month ( day 31 - day 60 ) :

Day 36: The peanut plants have now plenty of flowers. We counted 18 flowers on an area of 50 cm by 50 cm. 4 of these flowers are fresh and new , the other 14 flowers are still at the peanut plants, but no more fresh looking.

Day 38: First new peg (new stalk like stem growing downwards) sighted. It's already 4 cm long.

Day 40: A second peg at the same plant has grown. Length about 2 cm.

Day 45: A total of 8 pegs at all plants together counted with lengths between 1 and 9 cm. The first peg reaches the ground already.

Day 57: 14 pegs are now growing; lengths of these pegs are now between 2 cm and 10 cm.
The peanut plants still have flowers. We counted 13 flowers today. 4 of them are new and fresh, 9 are withered, but they are still visible at the plants.

During the third month ( day 61 - day 90 ) :

Day 64: 29 pegs are now growing (20 pegs reached the ground, 9 not yet reached the ground).
Flowers: 4 fresh flowers are at the plants and another 4 old withered flowers are also still at the plants.
Others: Some leaves show dark brown spots ( about 1 % of all leaves).

Day 72: 2 new flowers, 6 withered flowers at the plants.
The leaves show more black brown spots than about 1 week ago.
The peanut plants cover now an area of about 75 x 65 cm.
The average height of the plants is about 35 cm. The maximum height is about 50 cm.

Day 78: 3 new flowers, 10 withered flowers at the plants.
The leaves show roughly same much black brown spots as on day 72.

Day 86: 4 new flowers, 2 withered flowers at the plants.
The leaves show slightly more black brown spots then on day 72.

During the fourth month ( day 91 - day 120 ) :

Day 99: No new flowers, no withered flowers at the plants. The leaves show slightly more black brown spots than on day 86.
About 5 to 10 % of all leaves have now black brown spots. Some leaves have few small spots, other have more or larger spots.
The peanut plants cover now an ground area of about 90 x 85 cm.
The average height of the plants is about 30 cm. The maximum height is about 45 cm.

New peanuts at day 99

Image 5:
New growing peanuts at day 99. The larger peanut is about 1 cm wide and about 1.5 cm long and was growing about 1 to 2 cm under the soil .

Day 106: No new flowers, only one withered flower at the plants. The leaves show more black brown spots than on day 99.
About 25 to 50 % of all leaves have now black brown spots. Some leaves have few small spots, other have more or larger spots.
The peanut plants cover now an ground area of about 90 x 90 cm.
The average height of the plants is about 25 cm. The maximum height is about 35 cm (except 1 stalk in a shady part of the planting area with about 45 cm height).

Day 116: Some leaves turn into yellow color. About 70% of all leaves now have brown or black spots, smaller and larger spots mixed.
4 withered flowers at the plants sighted.
Two of the peanut plants dug up to check whether they are ready for harvesting. The result see image 6. Some of the new pods are still small and not yet firm and brown , so it may be good to wait another 2 weeks for harvesting of the other peanuts.
New peanuts at day 116

Image 6:
New growing peanuts at day 116. The larger peanuts in the image are about 35 to 40 mm long. The image shows 2 peanut stalks grown near together.

During the fifth month ( day 121 - day 150 ) :

Day 130: Plant stalks are bent down.
Average height of the plants is about 20 cm. Max. height is about 30 cm. The peanut plants cover now an ground area of about 90 x 100 cm.
All peanuts dug up for harvesting.
Total harvest ( day 116 and day 130 together: 47 pods. ( planted on day one : 9 pods)
The harvested peanuts ( plants including pods) now placed in the sun for drying for the next few days.

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Dimensions mentioned here are partly from a particular plant only. They may be different for other plants from the same species or variety.

Note: 1 cm = 0.4 inch ; 1 m = 3.3 feet

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Last update of this web page: 31 March, 2002