Peanut in Zone 11a & 11b

Arachis hypogaea

Yes, peanut grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside Jan 8–Jan 15.

When to plant peanut in zone 11b

Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Start indoorsNot typically started indoors
Direct sow / transplant outsideJan 8–Jan 15
Estimated harvestMay 18–May 25 (~130 days after direct-sowing)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.

Plant alongside it in zone 11b

These go outside within two weeks of peanut in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.

Peanut
Photo: H. Zell via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped.

Peanuts are the strangest thing in most vegetable gardens. They flower above ground, self-pollinate, and then the fertilised flower sends a stalk called a peg downward, which pushes into the soil and forms the pod underground. Nothing else in the bed does this, and it explains most of what peanuts need from you.

How peanut fits zone 11's season

Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.

Peanut planting windows in every zone

Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

ZoneStart indoorsSow or plant outHarvest
7a & 7bNot usuallyApr 17–Apr 24Aug 25–Sep 1
8a & 8bNot usuallyApr 1–Apr 8Aug 9–Aug 16
9a & 9bNot usuallyFeb 22–Mar 1Jul 2–Jul 9
10a & 10bSpring windowNot usuallyMar–Apr~130 days after direct-sowing
11a & 11b (your zone)Not usuallyJan 8–Jan 15May 18–May 25

Harvest dates are about 130 days after the sow or plant-out date.

Good companions

No well-established companions for peanut.

Where to buy peanut seeds

Burpee (each supplier's peanut seeds)

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing peanut" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Peanut in USDA zone 11b

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Growing Peanut in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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