Riitta grew a houseplant from a peanut—“It’s so lush and keeps putting out new leaves”
Finnish Riitta decided to toss a few peanuts into a pot and see what would sprout. The result is a pretty houseplant that would also yield a crop if she could only bring herself to harvest it.
Where did you get the idea to grow a houseplant from a peanut, Riitta?
On a whim! I’ve tried all sorts of things before, like growing chili and lemon from seed.
I used ordinary store-bought peanuts meant for eating—we always seem to have some at home. I thought I’d just toss a few into potting soil for fun and see what happens.
When did you start?
I only started at the beginning of July. I soaked the peanuts in water for two days, then pushed them a few centimeters deep into ordinary potting soil (about 1 inch). I think there were four peanuts, and I put them all in the same seedling pot.
How did growing the peanut plant go?
In July, the south-facing window was so warm and bright that three peanuts started growing right away. In just a few days, the first shoots popped up.
I misted the soil with a spray bottle to keep it moist but not wet. The quick germination was a happy surprise.
Growth exploded in the heat, so after about three weeks I transplanted the plant into a larger pot. A month in, it was already producing yellow flowers!
What size is the peanut plant now, and how have you cared for it?
The plant is probably about 30 centimeters tall (12″) and really dense. After the seedling stage, I watered it more generously with a spray bottle, misting both the soil and the leaves. In summer I also gave it liquid fertilizer now and then. I stopped fertilizing at the beginning of October and reduced watering as autumn set in. I let the soil dry out a bit, but not bone-dry.
Have there been any challenges, like the leaves drying out?
Not at all. It’s been so easygoing. It only drooped a little when I moved it into the living room, but it perked right up when I moved it back in front of the south-facing window in our kitchen-living room.
Are you aiming to harvest peanuts, too? Do you know how to make that happen?
I’ve spotted at least one peanut when I’ve poked around in the soil, but to get a real harvest you’re supposed to stop watering completely so the leaves dry out, then lift the plant out of the pot with its roots. I haven’t had the heart to do that yet, because as a houseplant it’s so lush and keeps putting out new leaves. I want to see how long it will thrive looking this pretty. I’m planning to buy it a grow light for the winter.
I’ve read that if you want a harvest, it’s best to start peanuts earlier, in March–April. Then you might get a crop in autumn. Maybe I’ll do that next spring—then I might be able to let the plant dry down. I won’t have to pamper it like this firstborn.
What exotic plant will you try next?
It depends on which fruit I happen to bring home from the store. This peanut has been such a fun experiment that it’s given me extra motivation to try others, too.
