How to Grow Soybeans

Soybeans are grown as a commodity crop in the United States, where they are primarily used for animal feed and oil. However, soybeans are also an excellent crop for home gardeners, and they can be enjoyed as steamed edamame or in Asian-inspired dishes.Plant in late-winter, when soil can be worked.

After the threat of frost has passed, plant the seeds 12 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart. In all directions, thin to 6 inches.Powdery mildew, leaf blight, root rot, and a variety of other bacterial, fungal, and viral infections can affect soybeans. Soybean plants can also be significantly harmed by deer. Use row cover or fencing to keep deer and other pests like them out of your beans.

When and How to Harvest Soybeans Soybeans can be harvested when they are dry or snap/green. Soybeans are ready for harvest when the pods are still tender but the seeds have formed when they are young and green. When the pods are dry and brittle and the seeds inside are hard, dry soybeans are ready for harvest.
Consuming Soybeans Freshly Soybeans can be enjoyed as edamame by lightly steaming their pods. Soups, stews, stir fries, and homemade tofu all use fresh soybeans.
Soybeans can be kept fresh for more than a week in the refrigerator. Dry soybeans have a timeframe of realistic usability of quite a while.

How to Save Soybean Seeds Annual Life Cycle Recommended Isolation Distance When saving soybean seeds, keep varieties at least 10 to 20 feet apart.
Recommended Population Sizes Even if you only grow one plant, you can save soybean seeds. Keep seeds from five to ten plants to keep a variety going over time.
Assessing Seed Maturity Harvest soybean seeds when their pods are dry and brittle and when they are hard.
Collecting

On the off chance that the soybean cases are not totally dry before the primary ice, pull the plants up and dry them further inside.
Cleaning and Processing When the soybean pods are completely dry, you can extract the seeds by breaking them open. By gently treading on harvested material in a sack, tarp, or storage container, it can be threshed on a smaller scale. When cleaning soybean seeds, be careful because the embryos are easily damaged and the thin coats are prone to cracking.