[soya-bean]

Just got an allotment.  Amongst other grops we want to grow the new UK soya bean.  Has anyone tried these yet and can give us any advice?

[nobby]

havent a clue but welcom to the site  

[gobs]

No, but according to my book grow indoors and plant out only after danger of frost past, wishing you a nice summer, other than that it seems easy-peasy.

And if you have them, don't forget not to harvest in damp weather and cook before drying, they are inedible raw.

[Stripey_cat]

I have seed to try this summer - I think the variety is something like "Ustie" from T&M.  It says to plant next month after the frosts, but I may try some under cover in a few weeks.

[woodburner]

Soya article

[soya-bean]

My thanks for the comments and welcomes from nobby, gobs, Stripey-cat and woodburner.  I am going to try to treat them as mangetout or peas - I don't think that they climb as high as runners.  Interesting article, woodburner; I think there must be two strains of soya.  The ones I am hoping to grow look more like small broadbeans when podded - the Japanese call them Edamame and they are very tasty.

Perhaps Stripey-cat and I can report back on our techniques and success?

[Celtic Eagle]

Go for it

If we get a decent summer should be Ok just watch the frost remember loads of plants used to be termed half hardy / tender and they now grow through no prob

[Stripey_cat]

I think there must be two strains of soya.  The ones I am hoping to grow look more like small broadbeans when podded - the Japanese call them Edamame and they are very tasty.

I'd assumed it was the same plant, just picked young (like shelling peas and drying peas).  Whether or not you'd be able to ripen some in our summer is anybody's guess - I was hoping for a few dishes of edamame.  The article seemed to be talking about problems with eating very large quantities of ripe beans (not fermented into traditional forms), or using infant formula based on soya milk.  It explicitly said there wasn't an associated risk for eating young beans as edamame, or with eating moderate quantities of traditional tofu preparations, only with the massive consumption  of relatively unprocessed, ripe soya with large amounts of oestrogens in it.

[soya-bean]

I think there must be two strains of soya.  The ones I am hoping to grow look more like small broadbeans when podded - the Japanese call them Edamame and they are very tasty.

I'd assumed it was the same plant, just picked young (like shelling peas and drying peas).  Whether or not you'd be able to ripen some in our summer is anybody's guess - I was hoping for a few dishes of edamame.  The article seemed to be talking about problems with eating very large quantities of ripe beans (not fermented into traditional forms), or using infant formula based on soya milk.  It explicitly said there wasn't an associated risk for eating young beans as edamame, or with eating moderate quantities of traditional tofu preparations, only with the massive consumption  of relatively unprocessed, ripe soya with large amounts of oestrogens in it.

Do you know... I opened the packet and they don't look like I expected.  The seeds must change and shrink as they dry.  So, just the one plant then. ;-)

[weeeed]

I've bought some to try this year as well. I think I will plant them next week in the house rather than waiting any longer to do it outside. No patience that's my problem! Plus if I pot them indors I've more chance of keeping the mouse off them

[weeeed]

I've bought some to try this year as well. I think I will plant them next week in the house rather than waiting any longer to do it outside. No patience that's my problem! Plus if I pot them indors I've more chance of keeping the mouse off them

[hotterotter]

I grew them last year tried 'ustie' and 'envy', both similar; the same infact. hairy plants about 45cm tall. 2 things to remember: don't let them dry out they need lotsa water and don't get too excited you're not going to feed the world growing soya in a temerate climate. The good thing was nothing touched them no slugs no snails no rust nothing.

[woodburner]

This is what the article says about edamame.
"The young green beans, now sold as a fashionable snack, edamame, are lower in oestrogens and antinutrients, though not free of them."

Note the use of the word "fashionable". That means people haven't been eating them for long. It takes time for trouble to show.
Also, who made it fashionable?

I'm growing my own veg because I don't like what the big boys put on the shelves for us.
Personally I go with traditional wisdom over big business any day. If I ever grow any kind of soya, it'll be as green manure, not food.
There are plenty more unusual food vegtetables out there to try, that have stood the test of time, without starting on the ones that have been considered inedible for centuries!  :|

[woodburner]

The good thing was nothing touched them no slugs no snails no rust nothing.

There's a reason for that.

[soya-bean]

Well, my seeds have been in the ground for about three weeks now... nothing!  Anyone managing to do better?  I am now trying to start some in seed cells instead.