About
This upright, bushy annual legume with green foliage and small, insignificant sweet-pea like white to purple-pink flowers which appear from July through to September, followed by clusters of green, hairy fruit pods containing around 3 to 4 soyabeans per pod. Ready to harvest July through to November, when the pods turn yellow and leaves begin to drop.
About the genus
A genus of scrambling annual or perennial, best known for the species Glycine max, which is the cultivated soya bean used as a food ingredient. Tall stems produce green foliage and violet-purple to white flowers followed by green seed pods
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Fruit Edible
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun under glass April to May. Remove cover when seedlings appear and transfer outside to harden off from late May when the risk of frost has passed. Plants may need support in windy areas. Harvest beans when pods turn yellow. For more advice see soya-bean cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to caterpillars
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to bacterial blights, brown spot, anthracnose, downy mildews, powdery mildews and soybean rust, root and stem rots, stem blights and virus diseases