Growing peanuts in Texas

Plan by Texas production region and market type

Texas is not one peanut production environment. Separate field decisions by region, water source, soil and the market type accepted by the buyer.

Confirm the buyer and seed supply first

The Texas A&M manual identifies South, Central and West Texas as distinct production regions and notes that multiple market types are grown in the state. It advises consulting shellers about market acceptance and seed availability before choosing a variety. The named variety lists in that old manual are not current recommendations.¹

Read state statistics as scale, not a guarantee

USDA NASS reports 285,000 Texas acres planted and 262,000 harvested in 2025, with 641.9 million lb produced. State averages combine different regions, market types, rainfed and irrigated systems, and do not predict a new field’s yield.²

Account for shifting acreage and water risk

AgriLife reported about 145,000 Texas acres planted in 2026, down from the previous year. Its September report linked planting choices to a dry outlook and market conditions; that is a single-season account, not a long-term acreage trend.⁴

Establish a uniform stand in warm, moist soil

Use the old dates only as historical context

The 2011 Texas guide places West Texas runner and Virginia planting by 15 May and Spanish planting by 1 June, with Central and South Texas potentially later. It says to prioritize soil conditions favorable for rapid emergence. Check current county-level guidance, seed supplier information and sheller requirements before choosing a date.¹

Protect emergence

The manual warns against planting into extremely dry soil and then relying on delayed irrigation; it describes pre-irrigation as a way to prepare moisture for establishment. Confirm that the water supply can reach the planted acreage at the required time.¹

Choose varieties for local constraints

Match market type, maturity, disease history, soil and water to current Texas trial results and seed availability. Cultivar names in the archival guide reflect older releases and should not be treated as a present-day shortlist.¹

Size irrigation around water supply and quality

Budget water before acreage

The legacy Texas guide cites 24–28 inches of seasonal water for maximum yield and says to use irrigation-system capacity when deciding how much land to plant. Treat this as an older planning reference, not an irrigation prescription or a guarantee of yield.¹

Prioritize flowering, pegging and pod fill

The manual describes water use as highest during flowering, pegging and pod development, and reports that heat and moisture stress can suppress flowering. The 2026 AgriLife report documented prolonged temperatures above 95°F across much of the peanut region alongside inadequate water in some fields; plan monitoring around crop stage and soil moisture.^1,4

Test irrigation water

The Texas manual warns that peanuts are sensitive to salinity and sodium problems, with additional concern about boron in some West Texas areas. Have irrigation water and soil tested by a qualified lab before committing a field; use current interpretation rather than relying on thresholds in the old manual.¹

Scout and adjust to local disease pressure

Track disease history and canopy conditions

The Texas guide describes differences in foliar and soil-borne disease pressure among production regions. Keep field histories and scout for leaf spots, pod rot and other symptoms; use current Texas A&M AgriLife diagnosis and management guidance for the specific field.¹

Avoid carrying old pesticide schedules forward

The manual is over a decade old and includes product references that may no longer be registered or appropriate. Follow current labels, state recommendations and resistance-management guidance; this page does not prescribe pesticides.¹

Dig by pod maturity and plan drying

Use regional maturity ranges cautiously

The archival guide reports 130–140 days in South Texas, 140–150 in Central Texas and 150–170 in West Texas. Temperature, variety, planting date and moisture change development, so these ranges are background only; maturity sampling is the field decision tool.¹

Plan drying, storage and delivery

Agree on harvest, drying and delivery requirements with the sheller before planting. The 2026 report notes that rain and cooler weather affected digging progress; have a plan for delays and protect harvested peanuts from weather and quality loss.^1,4

Frequently asked questions

When are peanuts planted in Texas?

An archived Texas A&M guide gives West Texas references of 15 May for runner and Virginia types and 1 June for Spanish types, with Central and South Texas possibly later. These are dated references; check current local advice and soil conditions.

How long do peanuts take to mature in Texas?

The older Texas guide reports about 130–140 days in South Texas, 140–150 in Central Texas and 150–170 in West Texas. Variety, temperature, planting date and moisture affect maturity; sample pods before digging.

How much water do Texas peanuts need?

A legacy Texas guide cites 24–28 inches of seasonal water for maximum yield. Treat it as historical planning context and calculate field needs from rainfall, soil, crop stage, irrigation capacity and current local advice.

When should Texas peanuts be dug?

Dig based on representative pod-maturity samples and field conditions. Calendar estimates alone can lead to early or late digging and losses.

What was Texas peanut production in 2025?

USDA NASS reports 285,000 acres planted, 262,000 harvested, an average yield of 2,450 lb/acre and production of 641.9 million lb.