How to Start a Soy Oil Plant

Select a planting site in full sun. Soybeans can tolerate partial shade, but the crop will be smaller. Mix enough peat moss with the topsoil to reduce the soil pH to between 6.0 and 6.8. Soybeans can tolerate a range of soil types.

Add a low-nitrogen fertilizer to the soil, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Soybeans extract nitrogen compounds from the soil and do not require supplemental nitrogen.

Plant soybeans after the last expected frost when the temperature during the day is 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm climates that do not encounter freezing temperatures can support a late-winter planting. The plants do not tolerate frost, and even a light freeze can kill them.

Place the soybeans seeds in the soil at a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Space the seeds at least 2 inches apart and space the rows at least 2 feet apart. Cut the weaker seedlings at ground level to achieve a final spacing of at least 4 inches.

Keep the soil evenly moist until the soybeans sprout, which should occur within 10 days. Water the soil directly instead of above, as this can cause the seed pods to drop prematurely.

Add a layer of mulch 1 to 2 inches thick after the seedlings sprout to help the soil retain moisture. Add a row of aged compost along each row of soybeans during the summer.