Florida is a significant contributor to the United States peanut industry, a crop that thrives in the state’s climate and soil conditions. Although often associated with nuts, the peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea) is botanically classified as a legume. Like other legumes, peanuts enrich the soil by hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Florida consistently ranks among the top peanut-producing states in the U.S., making a substantial impact on the nation’s agricultural output.
Primary Growing Regions and Scale of Production
Commercial peanut cultivation in Florida is primarily concentrated in the northern regions of the state, particularly across the Panhandle and the Suwannee Valley. The majority of the state’s peanut production occurs in counties such as Jackson, Santa Rosa, Calhoun, and Levy. Santa Rosa County is highly regarded by candymakers and food brands for the quality of its peanuts.
Florida’s peanut acreage remains substantial, with approximately 165,000 acres planted statewide in recent years. This volume places Florida as a major player in the Southeast peanut region, which collectively grows the majority of USA peanuts. The state’s yield contributes hundreds of millions of pounds of peanuts annually to the national supply.
The economic value of this crop is significant for the state’s agriculture sector, with an annual production value estimated at around $145 million. The most common variety grown is the Runner peanut, which is favored for its use in peanut butter, candy, and oil. Approximately 75% of the peanuts grown in Florida are processed into peanut butter.
Specific Climate and Soil Requirements
Peanuts require a long, warm growing season, needing 120 to 140 frost-free days to mature fully. Planting typically occurs after the last frost when soil temperatures consistently reach a minimum of 65°F to 70°F.
The plant’s unusual reproductive process, known as geocarpy, is a major factor determining the required soil type. After the flower is pollinated above ground, a stalk-like structure called a “peg” grows downward and must penetrate the soil for the pod to develop underground. This process necessitates light, sandy, and well-draining soils, which are abundant in North Florida, allowing the pegs to successfully enter and expand.
Calcium is essential for proper pod formation and kernel development. Even if the soil contains sufficient calcium, it must be available directly to the developing pods underground; therefore, growers often apply gypsum to the soil surface around the time of first bloom. The sandy Florida soils are highly leachable, meaning nutrients are easily washed away by rain, which requires careful management of fertilizer and water throughout the growing season.
Cultivation and Harvesting Timeline
Planting generally starts in the spring, from mid-March in north-central Florida and extending through May. Growers aim to plant when the soil temperature is warm enough to promote quick germination, which usually results in seedlings emerging about 10 days later. Yellow flowers appear on the plant about 30 to 45 days after emergence, quickly followed by the development of the downward-growing pegs.
The entire growing cycle takes approximately four to five months (120 to 160 days), depending on the variety grown. Harvesting typically occurs in the fall, from September to October, when the pods have reached optimal maturity. The process begins with a specialized machine that digs up the entire plant and gently shakes the soil loose.
The machine then inverts the plant, leaving the pods exposed to the sun and air in windrows across the field. This curing process reduces the moisture content of the peanuts from 25-50% down to 10% or less for safe storage. After several days of drying in the field, a peanut combine separates the cured pods from the vines, completing the harvest.