Mature plants may reach a height of 3 feet or more. Soybean sprouts need plenty of rain alternating with periods of sun. Small pink, purple or white flowers grow in the axil where the leaf joins the stem. These seeds are borne in hairy pods that grow in clusters of three to five. Each pod contains two or three seeds, resembling peas.
Soybeans are easy to cultivate.
Soybeans are ready to harvest in September or October. When the seeds are mature, the upright vine and foliage begin to shrivel and the leaves fall away. Harvest must be completed before the pods shatter and burst open. All harvesting is done by machine. The soybean is the only vegetable food that is a complete protein.