Legumes & Pulses· Arachis hypogaea

Groundnut Growing Guide

Peanut/groundnut. Legume crop grown for oil and food. Fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

How Long Does Groundnut Take to Grow?

Groundnut is typically ready to harvest about 120 days after planting.

120

Days to Harvest

1,230

kg unshelled/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.

Growing Conditions

Temperature

25-35°C optimal

Rainfall

400-1000 mm/year

Frost Tolerance

none

Drought Tolerance

moderate

Humidity

moderate tolerance

Heat Tolerance

high

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: sandy loam, loam, well-drained sandy

pH range: 5.5 - 6.5 (optimal: 6)

Drainage: excellent

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)low

Phosphorus (P)moderate

Potassium (K)moderate

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

direct seeding

Planting Depth

5 cm

Plant Spacing

15 cm apart, 45 cm rows

Planting Season

spring, early summer

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

310 - 15,900 kg unshelled/ha

Market Demand

growing

Profitability

medium

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Aphids
Thrips
Leaf miner
White grub
Pod borer
Termites

Common Diseases

Early leaf spot
Late leaf spot
Rust
Aflatoxin (Aspergillus)
Stem rot
Collar rot

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Apply gypsum (calcium sulfate) at 400-500 kg/ha at pegging stage — calcium is essential for pod fill and deficiency causes empty or poorly filled shells.

Groundnuts fix atmospheric nitrogen via Bradyrhizobium, so skip nitrogen fertilizer — excess N promotes foliage over pod development.

Harvest when 70-80% of pods show internal darkening of the shell lining — delayed harvest increases aflatoxin risk and pod shattering losses.

Dry pods to below 8% moisture within 48 hours of harvest to prevent Aspergillus flavus contamination and aflatoxin production.

Rotate with cereals (sorghum, millet) and avoid following groundnut with groundnut — this breaks leaf spot and soil-borne disease cycles.

Sandy loam soils are ideal because pods must penetrate the soil after pegging — heavy clay soils restrict peg entry and cause misshapen pods.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Groundnut take to grow?

Groundnut typically takes 120 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. The best planting season is spring, early summer.

What soil does Groundnut need?

Groundnut grows best in sandy loam, loam, well-drained sandy soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Excellent drainage is required.

What temperature does Groundnut need?

Groundnut grows best at 25-35°C. Frost tolerance: none. Heat tolerance: high.

What is the expected yield for Groundnut?

Across 111 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Groundnut range from 310 to 15,900 kg unshelled/hectare, with a median of 1,230. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.