Basics

Ease of Growing
Easy
Grown as
Annual
Days to Maturity
80-85 (Spring/Summer)
Growing Habit
Bush
Hardiness
Tender

Soybeans are day-length sensitive, so you need to plant a variety that is adapted to growing in your area. Choose the longest season variety you can possibly grow, as earliness comes at the expense of productivity. The young plants are quite frost sensitive.

Crops
Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season
Long
Cultivar Type
-
Growing Conditions
Warm, Hot, Long days

Soybeans love heat (they will tolerate temperatures up to 100 degrees F) and must have warm weather for good growth. If you plant them too early they may well rot and certainly won't grow very much until the soil warms up. You can hasten the warming of the soil with cloches or black plastic mulch prior to planting.

Like other beans, they can be divided into those grown for dry beans and those for use as shell beans (Edamame).

Outdoor Growing Temp
60°F - 95°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp
60°F

Soybeans are planted after the soil has warmed up in spring (60˚ F minimum), which is usually 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost.

Start Indoors
Yes
Start Outdoors
Yes
Light
Water
Moderate

Bush Beans should have evenly moist soil at all times.

Feeder
Moderate

Low nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous.

Beans don't need a lot of nitrogen in the soil because they fix their own. In fact, if there is a lot in the soil they won't go to the trouble of fixing it. They do need plenty of potassium and phosphorus though.

They are sometimes planted after a crop that was heavily amended, or after a winter cover crop.

Suitability
High heat
Small Gardens?
Yes
Containers?
No
Attracts beneficial insects?
No
Color
Green
Fruit Size
- 3.5"
Plant Height
18.0 - 24.0"
Plant Diameter
6.0 - 8.0"
Hardiness Zone
3-11
Disease Resistance
-
Taste Profile

Sweet nutty flavor.

Rotation Group
Soil Builders and Cleaners: Legumes + Corn + Potatoes