This is my first year growing soy beans. The plants are setting pods - they look very hairy, but I assume this is normal. How will l know they are ready to harvest? Do I wait until the pods fill out completely, or should I pick them before that?
Thanks for any and all advice.
When to harvest Soy Beans
You want to wait to pick them until they are pretty plump, although there's no harm in picking one and seeing if the beans inside are the size you want them to be.
And, if this is your first year for fresh soybeans, you are in for a big treat! : )
Jo
When I grew them most all the pods ripen around the same time. We pulled the entire plant and sat out on the deck picking off the pods, then blanching and freezing. Enjoy!
-Kim
Thanks for the input. I'll wait until the pods are a little fatter before picking them. These are called "Beer Friend" - I hope they taste good.
They do taste good; I have grown those before! Something ate my plants to the ground a couple of years ago and I haven't planted them since.
Thanks, bluekat, I felt a couple of the pods yesterday and they are not quite fat enough. I'm really looking forward to eating them! Sorry to hear about your plants being eaten :(
My Soy Beans are not getting any fatter! Does anyone think I should pick them now? The plants seem to have stopped growing.
Well, I didn't pick any until yesterday, and I'm glad I waited because they did finally get fatter, and after I steamed them they tasted wonderful!