When Are Peanuts in Season? 7 Key Harvest Dates

Peanuts are in season across the U.S. from late August through October, with peak harvest running September into early November. This guide covers when peanuts ripen by region, how the season unfolds from planting to dig date, and what to look for when buying fresh or cured peanuts.

Peanuts are in season from late August through October in the United States. Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas dig the bulk of the crop in September and October. Fresh “green” peanuts and boiled peanuts hit roadside stands from August into November.

On my Kansas farm I don’t grow peanuts at scale, but I work with growers across the South every fall, and the season runs on a tight clock. If you understand how the crop matures, you’ll know exactly when to buy, boil, or dig your own. For background on where peanuts grow naturally, the South does the heavy lifting.

What Does “In Season” Mean for Peanuts?

In-season peanuts are pods harvested fresh from the field within the current crop year. The U.S. crop year for peanuts runs August 1 through July 31, per USDA. Fresh-market peanuts (green peanuts) sell within days of digging. Cured peanuts dry to about 10% moisture, then sell year-round.

Peanuts are legumes, not nuts, and they ripen underground on a low bush. If you’ve wondered whether peanuts grow on a bush, that’s where the pods form, attached to pegs that push into the soil after flowering.

When Are Peanuts in Season in the United States?

Peanuts are in season from late August through late October, with most acres dug in September and October. The crop needs 120 to 160 frost-free days depending on variety, so the calendar shifts by region.

Here’s the typical timeline:

• Planting: late April to mid-May, once soil hits 65°F at 4 inches
• Pegging and pod fill: July through August
• Maturity check: mid-August to mid-September
• Digging (inverting): late August through October
• Combining: 3 to 7 days after digging, once vines dry

Variety also moves the date. Runner-type peanuts dominate Southeast acres and mature in 140 to 150 days. Virginia-type kernels run 130 to 150 days. Spanish and Valencia types finish faster, around 120 to 130 days.

According to UGA Extension peanut production guidance, Georgia growers usually dig from early September through October, depending on planting date and heat units accumulated.

Where Are Peanuts in Season by State?

Peanut season starts earliest in the Deep South and ends latest in Virginia and North Carolina.

Georgia produces close to 50% of U.S. peanuts per USDA NASS data, so most of the country’s in-season supply ships out of the Southeast. If you’re curious how output is measured, see pounds in a bushel of peanuts.

How Does the Peanut Season Work From Planting to Harvest?

Peanut season runs on five steady stages. Each one decides whether the crop comes out clean or sits in the dirt too long.

1. Plant in warm soil (65°F+) at 1.5 to 2 inches deep, 3 to 4 inches between seeds in 36-inch rows.
2. Flower about 30 to 40 days after planting; pegs drop into the soil.
3. Fill pods through July and August with steady moisture (1 to 1.5 inches per week).
4. Check maturity with the hull-scrape (pod blasting) method. Growers scrape pods to read color: yellow, orange, brown, and black mark progression.
5. Dig and invert when 70 to 80% of pods reach mature color, then combine after vines dry.

Wet soil delays digging. Frost ends the season hard, so growers in the Carolinas race the first freeze.

When Are Fresh (Green) Peanuts in Season?

Green peanuts are in season from mid-August to early November. These are freshly dug, undried pods sold for boiling. They hold high moisture (35 to 50%) and spoil within a week without refrigeration.

Boiled peanut stands from Georgia to Texas run their busiest weeks in September and October. If you want green peanuts for boiling, buy them within 5 days of digging and refrigerate or freeze the rest.

Common Mistakes Around Peanut Season

• Digging too early. Immature pods (white or yellow inside) yield less and store poorly.
• Digging too late. Pegs weaken; pods drop in the soil during inversion.
• Buying “fresh” peanuts in summer. True fresh peanuts aren’t available before August. Anything earlier is last year’s cured stock.
• Skipping the maturity check. Calendar dates alone miss the target. Pod blasting gives the real read.
• Storing green peanuts at room temperature. They sour fast.

For home gardeners interested to grow peanuts at home, planting after the last frost and waiting the full 130+ days protects your yield.

Safety Notes: Aflatoxin and Storage

Aflatoxin, produced by Aspergillus flavus mold, develops when peanuts dry slowly or store wet. Per the FDA action level, peanuts above 20 ppb total aflatoxins cannot enter human food channels. Cure peanuts to 10% moisture within 7 days of digging and store at 35–50°F, below 70% relative humidity.

Discard pods that smell musty or show black-green mold inside. Boiled peanuts should refrigerate within 2 hours and stay 4 days max.

FAQs on Peanuts in Season

Are peanuts available year-round in stores?

Yes. Cured peanuts ship year-round because they dry to 10% moisture and store for 12+ months. Only fresh green peanuts and farm-stand boiled peanuts are seasonal, running August through November.

When are boiled peanuts in season?

Boiled peanut season runs August through November across the South, peaking in September and October. Roadside stands in Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas sell freshly boiled green peanuts during this window.

What month do farmers harvest peanuts?

Farmers harvest peanuts mainly in September and October. Digging starts in late August in south Georgia and Florida and finishes by early November in Virginia and North Carolina, depending on variety and planting date.

Can you eat peanuts straight from the ground?

No. Freshly dug peanuts hold 35 to 50% moisture and taste raw and starchy. Boil them green, or cure them at 95–100°F airflow for 4 to 7 days down to 10% moisture before roasting.

Do peanuts grow on trees or vines?

Neither. Peanuts grow on a low bushy plant 12 to 18 inches tall. Pods form underground after the flower’s peg pushes into the soil. For more, see peanuts and trees and peanuts vs grains.

Conclusion

Peanut season runs late August through October across the U.S., with September and October carrying the bulk of the harvest. Plan your buying around the regional windows: Southeast first, then Texas, then the Carolinas. For fresh boilers, target the 6-week stretch from early September to mid-October. That’s when peanuts come out of the ground at their best.