Growing soy requires certain background information because, in contrast to other garden plants, soy is quite demanding. But with the right tips, not much can go wrong when growing this heat-loving plant
How can you grow soy successfully?
Growing soy is best done in a sunny to partially shaded location with easily warmed, medium-heavy, calcareous soil. The sowing takes place between mid-April and the beginning of May and the harvest after 140-150 days, usually at the end of September.
Where does she feel comfortable?
As an extremely heat-loving example of legumes, soy is important to be located in warm locations. It does not cope well with rough locations and late frosts. It quickly suffers frost damage if it is sown there too early. Locations in a sunny to semi-shady location are well suited.
What should the soil be like?
Soy requires an easily warmed substrate to thrive. It should be medium-heavy and its structure should prevent waterlogging. In addition, this plant thrives on a calcareous substrate with a pH value in the range between slightly acidic and neutral. Ideally, the soil is improved with some compost (€12.00 on Amazon) before sowing.
Which are good and bad neighbors?
You should not plant soy in the immediate vicinity of peas, bulbous fennel, carrots, leeks and onions. On the other hand, soy gets along well with the following plants in its vicinity:
- Cucumbers
- Potatoes
- cabbage
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce
- Radish
- Spinach
- Celery
- Tomatoes
When and how is sowing done?
In warm climates, soybeans are sown outdoors between mid-April and early May. In cooler regions, the plant should only be released outdoors after the Ice Saints. After around 10 days, the first cotyledons appear. Pay attention to:
- a row spacing between 35 and 40 cm
- a plant spacing of 8 cm
- a sowing depth between 2 and 4 cm
When and how is soy harvested?
After sowing, it usually takes between 140 and 150 days until soy is ready to harvest. This usually happens at the end of September. The ripeness of the soybeans can be recognized, for example, by the shedding of leaves on the bushes or by the 'ringing' of the pods.
When harvesting, the plants are either pulled out of the ground along with their roots or they are cut off just above the ground. For further ripening, they are hung in bundles in a shady and dry location.
Tips & Tricks
The most popular and proven varieties for growing soy among gardeners include 'Early Hakucho' and 'Envyy'.
