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Soybeans

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:00 pm
by romney
Anyone everygrown soybeans in or of the poly and any ideas where i can purchase organic non gm beans?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:50 pm
by richard p
try your local health food shop, :D

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:33 pm
by romney
have you tried growing them presume they are similar to peas/broad beans?

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:13 am
by alan refail
Romney

I have been meaning to try for years and never got round to it.

I was going to give the same reply as Richard (if you mean soya beans for eating).

If you mean a source for growing I doubt if they will work for you. Soya beans are grown in much hotter countries than the UK and most varieties will not grow/crop here. There are just a few specific varietis which have been bred for cooler condidions, though I understand even they do not do too well.

Below is a Q and A I have copied from Garden Organic website:

Soya bean varieties for the UK

I have heard that a new variety of soya bean that is specific to the British climate and suitable for growing in the UK, is now available. Apparently it is also a heavy yielder. Can you help?



There are two varieties of soya bean available for growing in the UK. ‘Ustie’ has been bred specifically for growing in the British climate and is GM free. The variety is self-pollinating and will provide a crop of beans from September onwards. The pods can be left on the plant until they are required, or the beans can be shelled and stored in airtight containers. ‘Envy’ is another possibility. This variety has been developed for growing in the northern parts of the USA, where the climate is quite cool. Both varieties are available from Thompson and Morgan at www.seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk or telephone 01473 688 821.

It is important the harvested beans are boiled before eating, in the same way as other dried or haricot beans.


Alan

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:30 pm
by romney
thx for this unfortunately T&M no longer list Soy Beans! I have also tried Holland & Barratt but they dont stock either. Definately want them for growing and hoping my polytunnel will provide the right environment. Will try supermarkets next!

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:42 am
by alan refail
romney

If T&M don't sell them any longer, and, after a quick search, it seems no other seed company does either, I think that contains a message (see what I said yesterday).

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:19 am
by Johnboy
Hi Romney,
Whereas it is not impossible to grow Soya Beans in a tunnel even with the vagaries of our British summers I feel that your tunnel could be put to much better use. You may think that an impertinent statement but Soya Beans are comparatively cheap and, to my mind, not really worth the growing.
I feel that to grow Soya in your tunnel would be a complete waste of the tunnels' potential.
JB.

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:16 pm
by alan refail
Johnboy

That was the other comment I was intending to make.

Alan

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:47 pm
by Richard at GS
I tried to grow Soya beans - the Edamame variety for eating the beans rather than for the soya - and they failed to even germinate. Not sure what the problem was as I have never had germination problems before, but am not willing to try again as they were expensive.