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Soybean – Glycine max

Soybean

Glycine max
Edible value7Medicinal value3Other uses1
annual0.6×1.5 mzone 8–11full sun🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Soybean is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Fabaceae
Habit
annual
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1.5 m
Growth
fast
Lifespan
1 year
First yield
after 1 year
Yield per plant
up to 0.1 kg
Hardiness
zone 8–11
Shade tolerance
full sun
Soil
Sand, Silt
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.6 – 7.6

Flowering & harvest

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Fruit harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible7 of 10
Medicinal3 of 10
Other uses1 of 10

Origin & habitat

Lowland thickets, central and southern Japan.

Frequently asked questions

Soybean: how big does it get?

Soybean (Glycine max) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 0.6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 1.5 m. Growth is fast.

Soybean: what site does it need?

Soybean tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.6 and 7.6.

Soybean: is it hardy?

Soybean is listed as hardy in zone 8–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Soybean: will it grow in Central Europe?

Soybean is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Soybean: when is it harvested?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from September to October.

Soybean: when does it start cropping, and how much?

Soybean crops in its first year. Expect up to 0.1 kg per plant. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.

Soybean: is it poisonous?

Individual parts of Soybean are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.

Soybean: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 1/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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