How to Grow Asgrow White

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Asgrow White

Glycine max

vegetable

Asgrow White is a white-seeded soybean variety bred for both food-grade and commodity production. Known for its clean appearance and versatility, it's a determinate bush variety that matures reliably across diverse growing regions. This variety is particularly popular for tofu, soy milk, and edamame production.

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Example Asgrow White timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Asgrow White

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Asgrow White

    Around Jul 21

    ≈ 95 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Asgrow White dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours minimum daily; 8+ hours optimal for maximum yield
💧
Water: Moderate, consistent moisture during vegetative and pod-filling stages; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Drought stress during flowering and pod fill significantly reduces yield. Ensure good drainage to avoid root rot.
📏
Spacing: 4-6 inches between plants in rows; rows 24-30 inches apart inches
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Days to maturity: 95-110 days (maturity group II)
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Planting depth: 1-1.5 inches; plant when soil temperature reaches 50-60°F, ideally 60°F or warmer

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to clay loam soil
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Balanced NPK fertilizer (lower nitrogen if nodulation is active) Calcium and magnesium if soil is deficient Organic matter to improve water retention Inoculant with Bradyrhizobium japonicum nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 4-8; performs well across the US Corn Belt and soybean-growing regions

4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

7-10 days

Cotyledons emerge and expand; first true leaves appear; plant is 2-4 inches tall

Keep soil evenly moist. Protect from birds and wire worms. Monitor for damping-off disease in wet conditions.

2

Vegetative

30-40 days

Rapid leaf development, branching begins, plant height increases to 12-20 inches; root system deepens

Maintain consistent moisture. Apply nitrogen-fixing inoculant benefits begin to take effect. Monitor for early pest pressure (Japanese beetles, bean leaf beetles).

3

Flowering (R1-R2)

10-14 days

First flowers appear at leaf nodes; plant is 18-30 inches tall; begins reproductive phase

Critical water stage—maintain 1-1.5 inches per week. Avoid drought stress. Begin scouting for spider mites and aphids. Do not apply herbicides during flowering.

4

Pod Fill (R3-R5)

30-40 days

Pods enlarge and fill with seeds; plant may reach full height (24-36 inches); lower leaves may yellow and drop

This is the most water-critical stage. Maintain consistent moisture. Monitor for pod diseases and mites. Avoid foliar pesticides 30+ days before harvest.

5

Maturity & Harvest

14-21 days

Pods dry and brown; seeds inside are firm and white; plant senescence, leaves drop; pods rattle when shaken

Reduce irrigation. Harvest when moisture content reaches 12-15% for clean combining. Delay harvest to avoid pod shattering in dry conditions.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Corn (in rotation, not intercrop) Wheat (in rotation) Oats (cover crop) Clover (nitrogen building) Alfalfa (rotation partner)

Avoid planting near:

Continuous soybean (increases disease and pest pressure) Fields with soybean cyst nematode history Areas with high herbicide carryover from previous crops

Common Pests

  • Handpick in early morning, use pheromone traps away from field, apply neem oil or spinosad if damage threshold reached

  • Scout regularly; threshold is 30% defoliation in vegetative stage. Use insecticidal soap or pyrethrin-based products

  • Increase irrigation to reduce stress, spray with miticide (sulfur, neem) in hot conditions; predatory mites help naturally

  • Monitor for buildup; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like ladybugs

  • Use resistant varieties in rotation, practice crop rotation (3+ years away from soybeans), manage with resistant cover crops

Uses

🍳

Tofu & Soy Products

Culinary

White soybeans are the preferred variety for producing tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, and tempeh due to their clean appearance and neutral flavor profile. The high protein content (36-40%) makes them ideal for protein-rich food production. [source]

🍳

Edamame (young pod harvest)

Culinary

Young, tender pods harvested at the immature stage and blanched provide a nutritious snack or appetizer rich in complete protein and fiber. Popular in Asian cuisine and increasingly common in Western markets. [source]

🏠

Oil & Meal Production

Household

Mature seeds contain 18-22% oil used in cooking, biodiesel, and industrial applications. The protein-rich meal remaining after oil extraction is used as livestock feed and fertilizer. [source]

💊

Isoflavone Source

Medicinal

White soybeans contain isoflavones (genistein, daidzein) which may support bone health, hormone balance, and overall wellness. Often consumed as whole foods or supplements. [source]

🏠

Nitrogen Fixation & Soil Health

Household

Like all soybeans, Asgrow White forms symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and improving soil fertility for subsequent crops. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Wait until pods are brown and dry, and seeds rattle inside (moisture 12-15%). Cut stalks close to the ground with a mower-conditioner or pull plants by hand. Dry harvested plants to 10-11% moisture before combining or threshing. For edamame harvest, pick pods when green and tender (before full maturity) and blanch immediately. Avoid harvesting when wet to prevent shattering.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Asgrow is a division of Monsanto (now Bayer) with a century-long history of soybean breeding; Asgrow varieties are trusted staples in commercial agriculture across North America.
  • 🌱 White soybeans are visually distinct and more marketable than yellow varieties, commanding premium prices in specialty food markets for tofu and soy milk production.
  • 🌱 Soybeans can convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable soil nitrogen through their relationship with Bradyrhizobium bacteria—one plant can fix up to 15 pounds of nitrogen per acre in a season, reducing fertilizer dependency.

Gardening Terms

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