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Can You Grow Peanut in Maine?

US · USDA Zone 5a · zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b

Won't grow here

Peanuts need 120-150 warm frost-free days to mature — too short or too cool a season means no nuts.

Plant zones

6a–11b

Maine last frost

mid-April

Maine first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

120–150 days

When to plant Peanuts in Maine

Start indoors

Mar 18

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

Aug 13 – Sep 12

Dates are approximate, based on Maine's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Peanut

Peanuts are a fascinating crop — not a tree nut but a legume that flowers above ground and buries its pods below. They need a long, hot growing season and loose, sandy soil.

Plant raw, unroasted peanuts after soil warms to 65°F+. Hill soil around plants as they grow so pegs can bury. Harvest when foliage yellows; dry the pods before shelling.

Full peanut growing guide →

Gardening in Maine

Maine has a cool humid continental climate. Coastal areas are Zone 5b-6a; inland and northern Maine is Zone 3b-4a. Short summers but excellent for potatoes, blueberries, and cool crops.

See what grows well in Maine →

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow Peanut in Maine?

Peanuts need 120-150 warm frost-free days to mature — too short or too cool a season means no nuts.

What zone is Maine?

Maine spans USDA Zone 5a (3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b).

When do you plant Peanuts in Maine?

Plant Peanuts around mid-April (start indoors Mar 18), harvest Aug 13 – Sep 12.