Rashell's Blog

Soybean Seeds
Jan 23, 2008 | 8:40 PM PST

I received my Soybean Seeds and Datura seeds today!  : )  WOW!  That was quick.  I took pictures of the seed packets and seeds earlier today and uploaded them in my 2008 Album.  & now, here I am posting about 'em. 

Park Seed added, in the packets, a printout of "Soybean Recipes and Use of Soybeans".  Read on if you want to know more about planting/plant/recipes.  I read the following information at parkseed.com and on the packets.  I want this in my profile which is why I'm writing a blog.  & I want to share the information with those who want to know more.

I'll write about Datura in a separate blog when I learn more about the plant.  I remember reading in a members blog he or she (don't remember who, sorry.  When I find the blog again I'll edit this Edit: I can't find the blog... : () planted similar Datura. & I saw pics.  They looked beautiful! I better go find that blog again & the person. : )  I think the seeds should have been planted already?  Yikes!

For anyone who doesn't know yet.  There is more Soybean talk at GG's forum under Fruits and Vegetables.  Join us there! : )

The following info. is on the packets and at parkseed's web site:

On Both Packets:

When danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, sow seeds 1-1/2 inches deep and 2-3 inches apart in rows 18-24 inches apart.  For Pole beans sow in rows 36 inches apart and support the vines with poles, trellis, or fence.  Keep well-watered and fertilized as needed.  If you are sowing early into cooler soil, try dusting seed with appropriate fungicide for a better stand.

Soybean Shironomai (Clycine max Shironomai)

Full Sun, Moist, well-drained soil, ...normal, loamy soil type/tolerance, 70 days maturity, 12 in- 14 in

Soybean Early Hakucho (Glycine max Early Hakucho)

Same as above except for:  65 days maturity, Dwarf Plant, Pods mature at the same time, tolerant of high heat, harvest by pulling up the entie plant.

The following info. was inside the Park Seed soybean packets:

Soybean Recipes

Soybeans may be eaten in green or dry stage.  When eaten green, cook as lime bean.  In the dry stage, soak beans overnight or at least 4 hours.  Beans will swell 2-1/2 to3 times their original size.  Cook beans usually 2 to 3 hours until tender, adding water as needed.  Season as desired.

Uses of Soybeans:

1. Whole Bean

Can be used in any recipe calling for dried beans.  Delicious in casseroles, Chilli, and bean salad.  May be kept in the regrigerator several days.

2. Paste or Pulp

Cook beans as directed.  Put drained beans through a food press or meat grinder or mash with a potato masher.  A little liquid may be added.  (The remainder of the bean water can be ued as a soup base.)  This mixture may be frozen and reused.  Soybeans in this form can be used to make loaves, patties, sandwich filling (mix with chopped onion or sweet pickle relish and salad dressing or milk), or pie filling (use as a substitute for pumpkin or squash.)  It can also be mixed half and half with peanut butter, 1/4 beans to 3/4 hamburger for patties, 1/2 cup or so in pancake batter or add small amount of tuna, egg, etc.  (one part tuna to three parts soybeans) for a sandwich spread. 

3. Soy Milk

Cook soaked dried beans fr 15 minutes.  Place one cup of beans and two cups of bean water in a blender and liquify for 3 to 5 minutes.  For drinking, add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar.  It has a chalky taste due to the inability of the Soybean to be completely ground.  You may strain milk through a cloth to eliminate this, but you also eliminate much of the nutritional value.  Soy milk may be used in any recipe calling for regular milk.

4. Bean Sprouts

Beans may be sprouted by soaking dried beans over night and then placing them in a single layer in a well-ventilated container (a collander lined with cheesecloth).  Rinse the beans three to four times a day for two or three days, being careful to keep them out of any sunlight.  Whe sprouts are long enough, expose to sunlight for several hours and then store in the refrigerator as any green vegetable.  Excellent in salads and Chinese dishes.

Soybean Casserole:

1t. Salt, 2c. cooked soybeans, 2c. Canned corn, 1c. Grated cheese (Cheddar), 1 scant cup buttered whole wheat bread crumbs or wheat germ.

Alernate layers of beans, corn, cheese and drained tomatoes into a greased baking dish.  Mix salt with tomato juice and pour over mixture.  Cover with crubs and bake in a moderate oven for 35 minutes or until crumbs are brown.

Soybean Salad 4 to 6 servings

2 c. cooked soybeans, 2 hard cooked eggs, 1/4 c. chopped sweet pickles, 1/8 tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. Diced onion, 1/4 c. diced celery mayonnaise to blend. 

Combine Soybeans, sweet pickles, onion, celery, and diced egg.  Add mayonnaise and mix lightly.  Serve on lettuce or other salad greens.

See ParkSeed.com website for more info. about the seeds I bought from them. : )

GOT GG?
Jan 19, 2008 | 7:49 PM PST

Well I started, ready or not!

After asking soooooo many questions, good ones bad ones & embarrassing ones, I think I'm read to dive into the seed and vegetable world.  I tried before but with no success thanks to ground squirrels. 

If I'm not ready, Oh well, I'll just visit the GG forum and ask some more questions.  Everyone here is so great I know I'll get answers from the experts.  : ) 

Thanks to DanS's "Plans for 2008" post, it got me into full speed question mode! : ) But I stepped on that brake real quick when I realized I can't plant until I do something about the crazy squirrels!  Well, I took care of that problem by reading other GG members advice on how to keep them away (@ the forum under Garden Animals).  Since I've tried practically everything, I think I'll try out Ronsgardens way next. 

Then I started to worry about Zones.  All the information out there in cyber space did not make sense to me.  So I asked my zone question here and thanks to MamaBear and Ronsgardens I think I understand how it works now.

Well off to soybean, oh boy did I have a lot of quesitons on this one & still will have I'm sure.  While asking and waiting for answers (Growing Fruits and Vegetable section of the forum) I saw Larrystewarts and Angelsgarden Photo Albums.  WOW! Did there veggies, planters inspire me to move on?  Sure did!  Put me back into full speed V8 I can do it power!  LOL Raised my hopes again and I'm not going back I tell ya!  No time for getting nervous now. : )

I ordered a couple of packets of green soybeans seeds (Soybean Shironomai and Soybean Early Hakucho) on the 17th from Park Seed.  Supposedly I'll receive them when It's time to plant 'em.  I could not resist the beautiful Angel's Trumpet Ballerina Collection (purple-tipped white, pure white, and warm primrose-yellow) so I bought those too.  How could I not, I ask you? lol

The waiting will give me time to read up on HOW TOs for other veggies.  I looked up Vegetable companion (@GG) after I read Shiukopuppy's "companion planting for fruits" and I found a great chart which will help me out.  I'll start reading about the companion plants ASAP.

I also visited a bunch of sites on line and found a couple places which have tons of information.  So these will help out.  (links at Growing Fruits and Vegetables).

Looks like Meska, CarolineC a few others have some great advice about growing veggies/fruits in containers.  Now that will help a lot.  I'll have to plant most of my veggies in containers 'cause of all the trees in my garden I don't have enough Sunny spots in my planters.  Most likely the veggies will be planted in containers and I'll put 'em out in front of my house.

I bought a seed starter today!  I planted Danvers Carrots (Jan-Sept), Black Beauty Eggplants (April-May) & Chives (Feb-April).  Dates are for our section of California.  I got the list at Home Depot next to the seeds (Stover-Vegetable & Herb Planting Guides).  BUT, I remember seeing a similar list on line yesterday...so it wont be hard for others to find it.  The list I have is for California and Arizona.  Also, I bought strawberries and planted them in a hanging basket.  I don't think they will survive 'cause of the wind/cold but it's ok, they look so pretty hanging in my back yard.  Eggplant and Chives was mostly for fun.  I'm hoping they will grow but I started them a bit early.  At the end of this month I will plant Tomatoe and pepper.  : )   At least I read we should plant them at the end of the month.  But I saw lots of tomatoe plants @ Home Depot!  hmmmmmmmm 

Well, that's all for now ....believe me I can go on forever I'm so excited. : )  Off to read some more now.  Thank you guys very much for the information.  I really appreciate it.  I hope no one minds me mentioning them in my blog.  Sorry if I missed anyone.  I know I'll still make lots of mistakes but at least this time I'll try to do things right.  & I have GGers to help!  Heehee, I think I'll get a bumper sticker with the words "GOT GardenGuides?" on it.

PS.  I'll post pictures of my seed starter and strawberries in my 2008 Album  : )  Just as soon as my figures relax after the long long blog....SHEESH!