- In which location does she feel comfortable?
- What should the soil be like?
- Which are good and bad neighbors?
- When and how is the sowing done?
- When and how is soy harvested?
- tips and tricks
The cultivation of soy requires certain background information because, unlike other garden plants, soy is quite demanding. But with the right tips in hand, not much can go wrong even when growing this heat-loving plant…
In which location does she feel comfortable?
As an extremely heat-loving example among the legumes, soy attaches importance to a location in warm locations. It does not get along well with rough locations and late frosts. It quickly suffers frost damage if sown there too early. Locations in a sunny to semi-shady position are well suited.
What should the soil be like?
To thrive, soy needs an easily warmable substrate. It should be of medium weight and its structure should prevent waterlogging. In addition, this plant likes a calcareous substrate with a pH value in the range between slightly acidic and neutral. Ideally, the soil is upgraded with some compost before sowing.
Which are good and bad neighbors?
You should not plant soya in the immediate vicinity of peas, 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 the sowing done?
Soya is sown outdoors in warm locations between mid-April and early May. In cooler regions, the plant should only reach the open air after the ice saints. After about 10 days, the first cotyledons appear. Attention should be paid 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 for soy to be ready for harvest. This is usually the end of September. The state of maturity of the soybeans can be recognized, for example, by the leaves shedding on the bushes or by the 'ringing' of the pods.
When harvesting, the plants are either pulled out of the ground together with their roots or they are cut off just above the ground. For example, they are hung in bundles in a shady and dry location for later ripening.
tips and tricks
Some of the most popular and trusted varieties for growing soy among gardeners include 'Early Hakucho' and 'Envyy'.