what type of peanuts grow best in north central texas area?

I would like to try to grow some peanuts next year.

I read there are 4 types

Virgina
Valencia
Spanish
Runner

Someone mentioned runner is best for the south, so I thought they would be best, but
then Texas is not really the south. It is sort between south and southwest.

My soil is clay, but with loam in the garden. I guess the sandy preferring peanuts would not like it here.

I thought since pole cowpeas perform better here than the bushy cowpeas, I thought runner peanuts would be the logical choice, but now I am not so sure. I read someplace Spanish would be better. Now I am all confused.

I have been hunting for runner peanut seeds. They just don't seem available at the retail level.

Someone suggested a feed store, but Then one would have no clue what kind they were. I would think they would not even have them labeled. They might be just peanuts. But I don't know. Someone said the ones in the catalogs are for northern gardeners. Well gee, what am I to do??

Anyone know what sort would like North central Texas and where to get the seeds. On-line preferably. I don't get out much, so it is way easier to shop on line.

And If possible why would the sort you mention be best for my area?

North Texas weather.

last frost april 1-15

first frost nov 1-15

temps go to 95 by june
100 by july
and 110 by august

june to august nights are almost all over 70

sept day temps drop to 90's-100's

oct 80's - 90's by day 40's-60s by night

may 5" Rain
June-august 2-3" per month
sept 3 "
oct-5" rain

all other months about 2-3.5" per month.

these are averages, but have been getting less these past few years.

longest day is 14 hours mid june
eqinoxes = 12 hours
shortest day mid winter 10 hours

Check with your local extension agent or Texas A & M. The Spanish type will grow just about anywhere a peanut will grow. But they are best suited for certain usuage like candies. Valencias are relatively easy to grow little longer season tha Spanish types. Virginias are grown in sandy soils primarily in Southe east Virgina and coastal Carolina.
Use mostly fo fancy roasted, salted peanuts. Runners have the longest season and are grown primarily for processing like peanut butter. Most of the name cultivars are not available from mailorder vendors. Generic Spanish and Virginia are the usual, with a few selling the old Tennessee, Valencia. If you are in or close to an area with commercial peanut growers,the farm stores will have the dominant cultivar in bulk.
http://www.texaspeanutboard.com/
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/cropbriefs/peanuts.html
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/afp1.html
One option is buy local raw peanuts and use them for seed. One warning, other than the novelty, growing your peanuts for food is not the easiest. Lots of disease problems without major chemical control.

thanks farmer dill

As always you seem to know everything.

Don't know how you find time to garden/farm helping us all out like you do.


From the articles hat you posted it seems Spanish are the most frequently planted in Texas. It also seems peanuts are not planted in my part of Texas. Could be little to no farm land in this area or they do not grow well here. It is very dry here and peanuts seem to need consistent moisture. But I will give them a go anyway.

Thanks.

I often wonder the same about farmer dill. I can't even find the links for my on stuff and he always finds links for everyone. Mike

Having grown up visiting my relatives in Glen Rose, TX, 60 miles west of Dallas, we passed many peanut fields. The soil there is red sand. The peanuts grow underground on the roots like potatoes so they would be different from peas. From reading the above posts I wasn't sure you understood that.

I'm looking for Virgina peanuts if someone has any to share email ldloretta@yahoo.com please