Vegetable Soybean Production, Harvesting

Harvesting
Vegetable Soybean Production

	Harvesting is done when 80% of the pods have reached physiological maturity stage. It may take 65 to 75 days after germination for vegetable soybeans to be ready for harvest depending upon variety, temperature and weather conditions. The pods are still green. In Taiwan, harvesting usually begins at midnight when dew and cool temperature help to preserve the green color and freshness of the vegetable soybeans.
	When harvested in daytime, the plants are kept under the shade.
	The pods are stripped from the plants by hand.
	Harvesting machines can save labor, cost and time.
	Grading is important for export of good quality vegetable soybeans. The diseases and insect-damaged pods and pods with spots and blemishes are sorted out. The good marketable yields are 7-10t/ha of pods, or 4-7 t/ha of green beans, or 18-25 t/ha of whole plants.