Seed Sowing
Sow in modules in April in a heated propagator or on a warm sunny windowsill or directly where plants are to grow from late spring when danger of frost has passed.
Transplanting
Transplant your seedlings into their final growing position in May when the risk of frost has passed, leaving 20cm between plants.
Soybeans will benefit from being grown undercover in a polytunnel or greenhouse, but can be hardened off and grown outdoors in a well sheltered, south-facing spot. They are also suitable for container growing but make sure your pot is at least 5L in volume.
Plant Care
Keep the area weed-free and consistently watered during hot spells. You can mulch around the plants to keep in moisture and prevent weeds.
Soybeans are nitrogen-fixing so they won’t need any extra nitrogen from manure or compost – too much nitrogen and they may make too much foliage and not enough pod.
Challenges
Soybeans are generally free from pests and diseases but may be vulnerable to slugs and snails when germinating or as young seedlings.
Harvest
Soybeans are ready to harvest about 12 weeks after sowing. If picking for edamame, pick when the pods are still green and the shape of the beans is visible through the pod. To make soy milk or tofu wait until the beans have grown large and the entire plant has turned brown. You should be able to hear the beans rattling inside the pods.
Culinary Ideas And Uses
For edamame, briefly cook the young, still-green beans in their pods, by boiling in salted water until they are just starting to soften and serve with a sprinkle of sea salt and chilli flakes. Remember not to eat the pods, use your fingers to break open the pod and pop the bean straight into your mouth.
You can use dried soybeans in any recipes that would otherwise call for chickpeas or try making your own soy milk at home.
Seed Saving
Pollination occurs before the flowers open so there is no concern about plant isolation when saving for seed.
Wait until the pods begin to dry on the plant and either harvest the pods individually or pull the entire plant and hang upside down to dry further. Protect your hands with gloves when handling the dried pods. Either thresh by hand or by striking against the inside of a bucket. Winnow and store in a cool dark place.
Most popular Unusual Vegetables
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Cima di Rapa – San Marzano (Organic)
£2.10 – £3.00 Add to basket This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageCima di Rapa – San Marzano (Organic)
A really easy to grow broccoli alternative producing tender flowering shoots around 60 days from sowing. Cima Di Rapa (also known as broccoli raab), is actually botanically a type of turnip rather than a broccoli. As such it is very quick to grow and unfussy in terms of its water and nutrient requirements.
The flowering shoots are harvested like sprouting broccoli and if you take care not to remove the lower two leaves you can get a few cuts off them.
In Italy there are many different varieties of Cima Di Rapa, maturing at different times and with different culinary uses.
£2.10 – £3.00 -
Broccoli – Fiolaro di Creazzo (Organic)
£2.20 Add to basketBroccoli – Fiolaro di Creazzo (Organic)
A traditional Italian type of broccoli sown in summer and harvested in autumn and winter. Broccoli Fiolaro di Creazzo has been cultivated for many centuries in Italy and is on the Slow Food Ark of Taste list which is a living catalogue of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction.
It is sown in July through to early September and harvested November to March.
It does not grow a large central head, but produces side shoots – “fiois” – from its stem which are harvested and cooked with the leaves – not too dissimilar to Kalettes.
(Approximately 70 seeds / packet)
£2.20 -
Cucamelon (Organic)
£1.80 Add to basketCucamelon (Organic)
An unusual cucumber relative producing an abundance of grape-sized crunchy fruits. Cucamelons have become popular addition to the veg patch in recent years. Despite the name they are neither cucumber or melon but their own species, Melothria scarba.
They are best grown up a trellis system as they have a sprawling growth habit. Their fruits are crunchy, fresh and tangy, and make a great snack or pickle.
(Approximate seed count – 20)£1.80 -
Agretti / Salsola – (Organic)
£2.05 – £4.00 Add to basket This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageAgretti / Salsola – (Organic)
A leafy Italian delicacy, can be eaten raw or cooked. Agretti is a popular Italian leaf which is slowly becoming more popular in the UK particularly with chefs. Its flavour could be described as ‘chivey samphire’ and is slightly salty. It can be lightly steamed, stirred through pasta, or added raw to salads to add an interesting twist. The seeds are only viable for a few months – they are actually little plants not strictly seeds.
£2.05 – £4.00
