Dear Helpful Folks, The city girl in me is about to be exposed. Even though I live in GA, the peanut capital of the world, I'm told, I don't know didlee-squat about growing them. The grandsons want to grow them and make home made peanut butter. Is this possible in a large patio container? Now don't laugh, but I have checked every seed packet shelf in every store and I don't see "peanut seeds" !! Where does one find the critters? Please give this city girl directions and we'll have a toast to you when we get our peanut butter churned just right. A big sandwich and a glass of COLD milk. If you have time, I really need 1-2-3 directions, because that how the old brain works best. Have to let the grandsons think I know something, about something !! Here's to the circus and stadium peanuts !! Cece

There is a lot to be found on the subject. Let us know how you do with them. pat :@) http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1997/5-2-1997/peanuts.html http://peanutvan.com.au/growing.htm http://www.ag.fvsu.edu/html/publications/teletips/lawn%20and%20garden/vegeta bles/150.htm http://www.bloomingarden.com/PEANUTS.html <<Dear Helpful Folks, The city girl in me is about to be exposed. Even though I live in GA, the peanut capital of the world, I'm told, I don't know didlee-squat about growing them. The grandsons want to grow them and make home made peanut butter. Is this possible in a large patio container? Now don't laugh, but I have checked every seed packet shelf in every store and I don't see "peanut seeds" !! Where does one find the critters? Please give this city girl directions and we'll have a toast to you when we get our peanut butter churned just right. A big sandwich and a glass of COLD milk. If you have time, I really need 1-2-3 directions, because that how the old brain works best. Have to let the grandsons think I know something, about something !! Here's to the circus and stadium peanuts !! Cece

Yeeee Haaaaw!! Peanut info!! Peanuts (arachis hypogaea) do best during a long, hot growing season. Plant them in early to mid April, or when the soil has warmed sufficiently. Remove the seeds from the shells and plant them about 1 to 1 1¦2 inches deep. Plant about four or five seeds for each foot of row. The rows should be 30-36 inches apart. The soil should be light and sandy, with plenty of organic matter. The soil should be loose, not clayish and hard. Leaves, compost or well rotted manure should be added. Rocks and sticks should be removed. A soil test should be used to determine the lime and fertilizer needs for peanuts. A soil pH of about 6.0 would be optimum for peanuts, but the crop can produce well over a wide soil pH range. If lime is needed, broadcast the recommended amount and incorporate with the soil well in advance of planting. One-half cup 8-8-8 fertilizer for each 10 feet of row prior to planting, however if the area was heavily fertilized during the previous year, you can use considerably less. Peanuts need calcium in the top three to four inches of soil where pods develop. Without calcium, nuts will not fill out. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) can be applied when the peanuts flower to supply needed calcium at a rate of one cup for each ten feet of row. Cultivation to control weeds should be shallow. This prevents damage to peanuts because they develop near the soil surface. Don't let peanuts dry out during flowering. Water them weekly until the soil is soaked six to eight inches deep. If the plants are allowed to dry out at any time after flowering, the plants will make fewer peanuts. Mulching with well rotted compost will help to keep the soil moist and help to control the weeds, however over-watering can cause the nuts to sprout in the ground. Peanuts flower over a long period of time and therefore all pods do not mature at the same time. Consequently, judgment and experience is necessary when determining when to harvest the peanuts. Generally, peanuts are ready for harvest when older plants begin to yellow. They should be dug and left to dry upside down on the row for a day or two, much as you would with potatoes. If it's rainy, dry them in an airy place, out of rain. When the nuts are dry, pull them from the roots and store them. Happy munching! Peanut Peanuts are a fun crop to grow because they taste good. But they need a long growing season and light sandy soil. They do not grow well in clay soils as the pea pods or "Pegs" burrow into the soil and have difficulty pushing through clay soils. Did you Know? It shouldn't surprise you to discover that peanuts are members of the "pea" family"! Sowing: If you have a 130-140 day growing season, you can direct sow peanuts outdoors. Plant peanuts outdoors after all danger of frost has past. Sow them one to two inches deep and space seeds six to seven inches apart in rows three feet apart. If you have a shorter growing season than the plants need, sow seeds indoors two to four weeks before the last frost date for your area. Use individual peat pots to minimize transplanting shock. Tip: You don't need to buy seeds from a seed store. Buy raw peanuts from your grocer, if available. Days to Maturity: 130-140 days. How to Grow: Peanuts prefer sandy soil with generous amounts of compost and manure. Work the soil several inches deep and provide plenty of drainage. If your soil does not drain well, slightly elevate or mound the rows. Make sure to provide water to keep the soil moist as sandy soils dry out quickly. But ,do not overwater these plants. The peanut pods or pegs will grow from a large stem which will bend down and push into the soil If the soil is too hard, add a couple of inches of mulch and sand on top of the soil. Harvesting: Harvest peanuts after the first fall frost. Pull the entire plant out and allow the peanuts to dry. Then, pull off the peanuts, roast and enjoy! Tip: Save some of the raw peanuts for seeds for next year. Hardiness: Peanuts a a very tender annual which will succumb to frost. Cover seedling and mature plants as needed if the danger of frost exists. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------