Peanut seed treatment with hot water (50 C for 20 min.) or hot aqueous solutions of Ca(OH)2 were found to stimulate the rate of peanut germination and increase final stand counts in laboratory and greenhouse trials. In field germination trials, seed soaked in hot Ca(OH)2 solutions and dried, were found to perform almost as well as seed treated with commercial fungicides. It is theorized that the soaking process may remove chemicals responsible for seed dormancy, and initiate germination processes, giving seed soaked in hot water a more rapid emergence. The rapid rate of emergence can lead to seedling escape from disease, which is assisted by the antifungal properties of Ca(OH)2.