Growing Soybeans – Ideal for Tender and Warm Weather

Growing soybeans is very common in countries with warm weather such as Australia, Africa, and Asia. Growing these beans is popular because of their many health benefits.

Growing Soybeans – an Overview on Cultivating Soybeans

Most gardeners will find it easy when it comes to growing soybeans because they take little time to grow, and produce high yields. These plants take around 80-90 days to harvest; some farmers use a method called succession planting in order to have continuous harvests. Gardeners may also find that growing soybeans is good for the garden because they are sources of rich organic matter; some may plant these in order to use them as “green manure” because they convert gasses of nitrogen into compounds in the soil. Cultivating soybeans is also popular because of their rich protein content, and are used in many home recipes.

Soybean Seeds – Properly Sowing the Seeds

The best time to plant soybean seeds is in the spring, about two to three week after the last frost; make sure that the soil is warm, around 60 to 70°F during the day. Plant the seeds where they can get full sun, or with minimal shade; soybeans cannot thrive in moist areas because the seeds will rot or have mildew. Check the soil pH, and make sure that it is around 6.0 – 6.8, and has a good supply of nitrogen. Before planting, prepare the soil by making sure that the topsoil is soft, loose, and has good drainage. Apply light dusting of inoculants on the soybean seeds before sowing them in rows that are two inches apart; using inoculants help the seeds sprout and will minimize the need for fertilizers.

Soybean Plant – Ensuring a Good Harvest

Once the seedlings have sprouted, make sure that there are poles for support. Make sure there is adequate weeding and, mulching to prevent severe damage in the root systems; mulching also gives enough moisture on the soil, and can prevent over-watering as well. The soybean plant is also susceptible to diseases such as anthracnose, mosaic, and bacterial blight, so be sure not to walk around crops which have damp or wet stalks to prevent spreading of diseases. Once the plants have grown healthily, wait until the pods turn brown and have dried before picking them; if frost is expected, pick the pods beforehand and allow drying to finish indoors. Before shelling the pods, store them inside the freezer for two to three hours to kill insects or their eggs. Once the beans have been extracted, they should be kept in an airtight container to promote a longer shelf life.