When to Plant Peanut in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Plant October to December. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is October.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Peanut guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Peanut

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Not a nut at all. A legume related to beans. Annual crop sown in spring, harvested in autumn. After pollination, the flower stem (peg) grows downward into the soil where the pod develops underground. Needs a long, warm growing season (4-5 months frost-free). Easy to grow in warm zones with sandy soil. As a legume, fixes nitrogen and improves soil. Two main types: runner (spreading, commercial) and bunch/Spanish (compact, better for small gardens).

Best Planting Window for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - P P P

P = Planting window

Plant October-December. Year-round possible but dry season harvest preferred.

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How to Grow Peanut in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant October-December. Year-round possible but dry season harvest preferred.

Soil
Sandy to sandy loam ESSENTIAL. Peanuts form underground. Heavy clay prevents peg penetration and makes harvest difficult. Loose, well-drained soil is non-negotiable.
pH Range
5.8-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun. Maximum heat.
Spacing
15-20 between plants, 50-60cm between rowscm apart

Companion plants: Corn, Squash (traditional Three Sisters-like combo), Sweet potato

Avoid planting near: Nothing specific

Tropical Growing Tips for Peanut

Recommended Varieties

  • Virginia Bunch
  • Spanish types
  • Runner types

Key Challenges

  • Aflatoxin risk in wet harvest conditions
  • Leaf diseases

Pro Tips

  • FNQ (Atherton Tablelands, Kingaroy) is commercial peanut country.
  • Harvest during dry weather for best quality.

Harvesting Peanut

When ready: Plant yellows and begins to die back naturally. Pull a test plant. Pods should have dark-veined inner shell and mature kernels. Shell interior colour indicates maturity (dark = mature, white = immature).

How to harvest: Pull entire plant from soil (loosen with fork first). Shake off soil. Check pods are mature. Hang plants upside down in dry, ventilated area for 1-2 weeks to cure.

Expected yield: 20-40 pods per plant depending on type

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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Common Questions About Peanut

When do you plant peanut in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.