Fiskeby Soybean

Planting Instructions: Soybeans are a tender plant and should be sown after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Planting them at about the same time as corn is a good rule.

Sow seeds about one inch deep, three to four inches apart. Although you can plant in rows, they can be planted densely and allowed to form a canopy. This will help control weed growth. Soybeans are tolerant of drought and poor soil since they fix nitrogen. They will, however, benefit from fertile soil.

Soybean flowers are perfect (self-fertile) and cross pollination is almost non-existent, making saving seed easy. Allow pods to fully develop and dry on the plants.

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References:

1. "Soybean Genetic Treasure Trove Found in Swedish Village," Science Daily, July 31, 2011.
2. "History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in Canada (1831-2010)," by William Shurtleff & Akiko Aoyagi, Soy Information Center, 2010

Notes:

1. Fiskeby is a small town in east-central Sweden on the Gulf of Bothnia.  For perspective on where on the globe this relates to the United States, Fiskeby is at about 58.6 N Latitude, which passes just north of Juneau, Alaska near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula
2. Sven Holmberg, was once a leading plant breed in Northern Europe. His long career, beginning in the 1930s, spanned nearly fifty years.  His primary focus was on breeding soy varieties for the extremes of the far north and his successes assured his position in the history as a preeminent soybean breeder.