Peanuts are very interesting plants, botanically speaking, and were here to share some fun peanut facts!
Peanuts are the seeds of the peanut plant, which are formed in the familiar, fibery pods that we love to crack open at the ballpark.
Unlike pecans, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and cashews, peanuts do not grow on trees — no, they are not tree nuts!
Peanuts — their botanical name is Arachis hypogaea — are actually legumes, related to peas, beans, and lentils, and grow on bushy plants.
When farmers harvest their peanut crops, they save a portion of seed pods for planting the following growing season, and sell the rest for processing for food products (like peanut butter) and snacks. So, the peanuts we eat are the very things that get planted in the ground!
Peanuts are an iconic American crop with the U.S. being one of the world’s top peanut producing countries. But where exactly are peanuts grown in the U.S.? While peanuts can be cultivated in pockets across the southern half of the country the vast majority of commercial production takes place in just a handful of states.
The Top Peanut Producing States
The peanut is a warm season crop that thrives in hot summer temperatures between 70-90°F. Sandy, well-drained soils with moderate moisture also provide ideal growing conditions. States like Georgia, Texas, and Florida offer the right climate and soils for robust peanut yields.
In fact, over 90% of U.S. peanuts come from just six states
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Georgia – The number one peanut state, producing nearly 50% of the American peanut harvest
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Florida – Contributes over 11% of the nation’s peanuts.
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Alabama – Produces more than 10% of the U.S. peanut crop.
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Texas – Grows over 9% of American peanuts.
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North Carolina – Accounts for over 8% of total U.S. production.
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South Carolina – Produces over 4% of the peanuts grown in the country.
The remaining peanut production occurs in seven other states: Mississippi, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Missouri. But the big six states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina dominate as the major peanut powerhouses.
Regional Peanut Production
The 13 peanut growing states are actually grouped into three distinct production regions:
Southeast Region
The Southeast region includes Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. This region alone produces a whopping 65% of all American peanuts. The massive volume coming from Georgia and Florida makes the Southeast the heavyweight peanut production zone.
Virginia-Carolina Region
This region contains Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It accounts for close to 13% of the nation’s peanuts. Virginia and North Carolina lead production in this zone.
Southwest Region
The Southwest peanut growing region consists of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It contributes over 17% of the U.S. peanut crop, with Texas as the star producer.
Why the American South Dominates
So what makes states across the South so suitable for cultivating peanuts? The keys are climate and soil.
Temperature
Peanuts need hot and humid conditions to properly mature. Daytime highs between 70-90°F are ideal during the growing season. States like Georgia, Alabama, and Florida reliably deliver summer heat year after year.
Rainfall
20-40 inches of precipitation during the growing months keeps peanut plants hydrated without waterlogging the fields. The southern climate provides adequate rainfall for most peanut acreage.
Soil Properties
Peanuts thrive in sandy loam soils that drain well and have moderate organic matter. These soil characteristics are commonly found throughout the southern Coastal Plains region.
Growing Season Length
A long growing season with at least 140 frost-free days is required for peanuts. Most southern states easily meet this threshold, enabling a full growing cycle.
The combination of heat, humidity, rainfall, and soils in the American South create a peanut paradise. That’s why states like Georgia crush the competition when it comes to U.S. peanut production.
Peanut Production Statistics
According to recent data from the USDA, around 1.52 million acres of peanuts were planted in the U.S in 2022. Total production is forecast to reach 5.57 billion pounds, exceeding the 2021 harvest.
If this projection holds, it will be another record year for American peanut farmers. Average national peanut yield is estimated at 3,660 pounds per acre, an all-time high.
Strong demand, expanded acreage, and improving yields have caused peanut production to steadily rise over the past decade. U.S. peanuts are exported worldwide and used domestically in peanut butter, snacks, candies, and oils.
Peanuts Can Grow Outside the South
While commercial production is centered in southern states, peanuts can be grown on a small scale in other warm regions. Gardeners in places like California, Arizona, and even Kansas have had success cultivating peanuts.
But for mass commercial agriculture, the climate and soils in Georgia, Texas, Florida, and other southern states make them the peanut capitals of America. So next time you enjoy peanut butter or a salty snack, there’s a good chance those peanuts came from the fields of the southern U.S!
Where Are Peanuts Grown?
In the U.S., peanuts are grown mainly in the south and east, where the sandy soils and hot, sunny climate are most favorable for successful harvests.
Peanut country includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and, of course, Virginia.
The Growing Habit of the Peanut Plant
As we hinted above, peanut plants have a unique growing cycle, compared to other edibles. There are many other plants in the plant kingdom that produce seed pods for both propagation and eating — including the peanuts popular spring-growing cousins, snap peas and snow peas.
But peanuts are different in that the process begins above ground, and then moves underground to complete seed formation and ripening: The plant is above ground, but the peanuts grow underground! Heres how it works:
- The peanut (the seed) is planted in the ground (usually in May).
- The peanut germinates and sprouts, emerging above ground to form stems and oval-shaped green leaves.
- The maturing plant blooms and produces special stem-like structures called “pegs.”
- On the tip of each peg is a seed pod.
- The pegs angle downward and burrow into the ground, where the seed pods — with peanuts inside — grow and mature.
- At the end of the growing season in September or October, the peanut plants are harvested.
A field of peanut plants.
What it takes to farm peanuts | Georgia Peanuts
FAQ
Do peanuts grow on trees or underground?
Peanuts grow underground, not on trees.
Why is growing peanuts illegal in California?
In 1949, the U.S. Congress made it illegal to grow peanuts without a federal license. According to The Washington Times, the government created the license to limit federal spending. There was even a point where the government stopped giving out licenses so no one new could begin selling peanuts.
Which state grows the most peanuts in the US?
Georgia leads U.S. production of peanuts, outproducing all other States combined. In the United States, peanuts are grown mainly in the South, where the climate is warmer and growing seasons are longer than in northern zones.
Is it legal to grow peanuts in Texas?
It is legal to grow peanuts for your own personal use. I understand that in order to grow them commercially, you must be licensed. It is always a good idea to check your state’s laws. We are good in Texas.
How do you grow peanuts in the USA?
First, Farmers Plant the Seeds. Across the USA Peanut Belt, peanuts are planted after the last frost in April through May, when soil temperatures reach 65°—70°F. Farmers plant specially grown peanut kernels from the previous year’s crop about two inches deep, approximately one to two inches apart in rows.
Are peanuts easy to grow?
Peanuts are an easy-to-grow crop, as long as you can provide the right growing conditions and climate. A warm-weather plant, peanuts require a long, hot growing season, loose sandy soil to develop in and careful adherence to watering requirements.
Can you grow peanuts indoors?
Peanuts are surprisingly easy to grow at home. Most gardeners have more luck by starting the plants indoors early in the season and transplanting their seedlings into an outdoor garden once the soil warms up. To learn more about the right way to grow peanuts, keep reading. Know the benefits of starting a peanut plant indoors.