Soybeans are edible legumes with remarkable nutritional properties, as they are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, as well as vitamins and other minerals. They are also very versatile, as they can be cooked, fermented, dried and processed into products such as milk, flour, tofu and so on. Many farmers engage in intensive soy cultivation for commercial purposes, but you can also grow the plants in the backyard as long as there is three to five months of warm weather in your region.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting the Seeds
Step 1. Select the right seed type
There are thousands of different types of soy. If you want to eat them, make sure you have the edible ones of the green variety. If you want to make soy milk or flour, find those of the yellow variety. If you think you want to dry it, choose the seeds of the black variety.
Step 2. Choose the right soil
Finding the right soil for your soybean plants offers many benefits, including likely low weed presence, little erosion, the right balance of nutrients, and a suitable pH for growing. This allows for healthier plants with better yields.
- The ideal soil for soybeans should be well-draining and not too compact.
- If your soil is particularly rich in clay, you can make it more suitable for growing this plant by mixing it with some peat, sand, or mulch.
Step 3. Sow at the right time
Soybean seedlings reach their maximum yield if the seeds are planted in May, although the temperature of the earth must also be considered.
The ideal time to plant soybeans is 2-3 weeks after the last frost and when the soil reaches a temperature of around 15 ° C
Step 4. Prepare the seedbed
To grow properly, plants need a soil with well-balanced nutrients; if there are too many or too few, soy is affected. However, it is important to add fertilizer if the soil has not been enriched with nutrients in recent years.
If the soil hasn't been made nutritious in recent years, you can add seasoned manure or compost before planting
Step 5. Proceed inoculation
Nitrogen is a nutrient that soy is particularly in need of; the best way to make sure your beans get the right amount is to inoculate "Bradyrhizobium japonicum", a nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium.
- Put the seeds in a bucket and sprinkle them with bacteria. Use a spade or small shovel to mix them, making sure each seed is carefully covered with microorganisms.
- Keep the seeds out of direct sunlight and bury them within 24 hours of inoculation.
- You can purchase these rhizobium bacteria through catalogs, online, in garden centers or agricultural supply stores.
Step 6. Plant the seeds
Bury them about 4 cm deep and space them apart by about 7-8 cm. Arrange them following rows about 80 cm apart.
Once planted, water them just enough to moisten the soil; you do not have to overdo it in watering the newly planted beans, otherwise they can crack
Part 2 of 3: Growing Plants
Step 1. Keep rabbits away
These animals are particularly fond of bean sprouts and, if you do not protect the seedlings that are growing, they could ruin the whole crop. If you want to defend them from attack by these rodents, install a fence all around the perimeter of the garden.
- You can build a simple fence by sticking poles into the ground around the garden and attaching a wire mesh to it.
- You can purchase prefabricated garden fence panels.
- Another method is to bury metal rings around the flower bed and cover them with polypropylene fabric for agricultural use.
Step 2. Prune the weakest leaves
Once the buds sprout and grow a few inches, you should remove the weaker leaves so that the stronger ones can bloom. Cut them at ground level, without disturbing the roots. The remaining plants should be spaced about 10-15cm apart.
Step 3. Remove the weeds regularly
Soybeans are unable to compete with other weeds and can quickly suffocate if there are many weeds in the same garden; often tear them manually or using a spade.
Once the seedlings have established and grown larger, you no longer have to worry about weeds being eliminated with a high frequency, as the soy is now able to kill them on its own
Step 4. Water
Soybean plants usually only need additional water during three stages: at the beginning of growth and before they sprout from the soil, when developing pods and during flowering.
During these stages, remember to water them often, just enough to keep the soil moist
Part 3 of 3: Collect the Soy Beans
Step 1. Collect the pods
The beans begin to ripen in September and can be harvested when the pods are green, with fully developed and pulpy seeds. Remember to remove them before the pods turn yellow; just tear them off the plant.
When the seeds are ready, the pods are 5-8cm long
Step 2. Bleach them
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Fill another pot halfway with water and add ice for the remaining volume. When the water boils, put the pods in it and let them boil for 5 minutes; afterwards, collect them with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the ice water bath for another 5 minutes.
- When they are cold, take them out of the water and place them on a clean towel.
- It is very important to bleach the pods, because the human digestive system is unable to digest raw soybeans.
- This also makes it easier to remove the beans from the pod.
Step 3. Extract the beans from the pods
Once cool, take them in your hands and gently pinch both ends; as you apply pressure, the pod opens along a natural line of "suture" and the beans can come out. Place the latter in a bowl and repeat the process until you have taken them all out.
- Be careful when squeezing the pod, as the beans may come out with some vehemence.
- Compote the empty pods. They are very rich in nutrients and you can reuse them by composting them, and then enrich the soil with the beneficial substances they contain.
Step 4. Use and store the beans
When they have become cold, you can eat them immediately, add them to your favorite recipes or keep them for future use; they can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or remain edible when they are:
- Frozen
- Preserved
- Dried
