How to Grow Soy Beans for Fuel
- 1). Plant soybeans in late spring after the threat of frost. The soil must be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit for the soybeans to germinate and sprout. Choose a planting area located in full sun with moist, dark soil.
- 2). Push your tiller blades about 6 inches into the soil at the edge of your planting area. Push the tiller up and down the area until the soil is loose and crumbly.
- 3). Add 4 inches of mature compost to the top of the tilled area. Run the tiller over the area once more to mix in the compost.
- 4). Drop dry soybeans about 4 inches apart in rows about 2 feet apart. Cover each seed with about 2 inches of soil. Do not water right after planting. Instead, mist the planted area with a garden hose sprayer. Hold the sprayer about 3 feet over the area and moisten the topsoil.
- 5). Water the soybeans with about a cup of water per plant after sprouting. Water each week and keep the beds moist, especially during dry periods.
- 6). Thin the plants three weeks after sprouting. You should have no more than one plant every 4 inches. Harvest the beans in the early fall when the pods are plump and about 3 inches long. Dry them for about three weeks before shelling.
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